A fine gilt-bronze-mounted rosewood, maple and amaranth musical secrétaire a abattant stamped S. Jamar twice first quarter 19th century, made for the English market

the rectangular top above a frieze drawer containing a small cylinder musical box, the drawer centred by a wreath enclosing a female mask flanked by roses and butterflies, each corner with a lyre motif, the fall-front mounted with ribbon-tied berried laurel and with a leather-lined writing surface tooled with emblems of England, Scotland and Ireland and with the Garter star in each corner, the interior fitted with three brickwork arches on turned columns with a mirrored back and floor inlaid with diaper motifs above one deep drawer flanked on either side by two shallow drawers, one fitted with inkpot and sander, interposed by gilt-bronze neoclassical female figures, the lower section with a pair of cupboard doors, one mounted with a flaming torch, opening to reveal three long drawers with Corinthian columns on a platform base; veneered on the back 

Christie's, Scotland, 26-27 April 1989, lot 355

C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, London, 1996, pp.276-7, figs. 513-4.

This piece is of exceptional quality and generally in good condition. The colour is good and the bronze mounts are in bright, clean condition. The top is slightly uneven and has some age cracks including a crack the entire width. Both rear corners have been patched and repaired with patches. The front left hand corner has been patched and repaired. Minor repairs to the front right hand corner. The veneers on the top left hand edge have been rather crudely re-stuck and could be improved. The musical box in the frieze drawer is almost certainly later and could benefit from overhauling as the stop mechanism does not seem to work. The side of the left hand plinth has a small repair and chip. There are minor losses to the veneer along the bottom edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

S. Jamar, a London-based cabinetmaker working in the French manner, is first recorded in 1818 at 29 Wardour Street, Soho. There he advertised furniture 'equal to any made in Paris, and at a rate that upon calculation will be admitted considerably advantageous than importing from abroad...'.  The following year he opened a showroom in Gerrard Street, at which he invited the public to view 'Superb French Cabinet Furniture from his Manufactory' including 'a beautiful secretaire representing the French coffee house in Paris with 1000 columns'.  In 1826 he organised an exhibition of furniture in Liverpool 'which for taste in design and elegance in execution...can find no parallel'.  After 1826, he disappears from the record books.

His apparently brief career seems however to have been a success, since he was able to boast on his trade label that he was 'Cabinet Maker to Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland'.  His Empire-derived furniture - often architectural in form and stamped in the French way - is distinguished by the quality of its materials and by its attention to detail.  His superb gilt-bronzes in the manner of Percier and Fontaine were evidently imported from Paris. These were invariably mounted on richly figured and carefully matched veneers.  Although his furniture is entirely French in conception, little clues often give away its English provenance: in this case, English locks and British motifs on the gilt-tooling of the leather writing surface .