Lot 205
  • 205

A GEORGE III INLAID MAHOGANY BREAKFRONT BOOKCASE CABINET IN THE MANNER OF MAYHEW AND INCE

bidding is closed

Description

  • height 8 ft. 2 1/2 in.; width 6 ft. 7 in.; depth 21 1/2 in.
  • 250.2 cm; 200.7 cm; 54.6 cm
the cupboard doors opening to sliding shelves, the back with penciled inscription EF / 1931 and the black-stencilled number G20SModifications, alterations, losses.

Catalogue Note

The form of the arched cornice centered by either an urn or a patera is characteristic of the London firm of Mayhew and Ince.  A breakfront bookcase cabinet with a similar oval patera with pendent husks was sold, Parke-Bernet Galleries, Property of the Estate of the Late Benjamin G. Paskus, April 27-28, 1951, lot 426, and later, Christie’s, New York, January 19-20, 1996, lot 495.  As with the present lot, this bookcase has a pair of cupboard doors opening to sliding shelves and is flanked by banks of drawers.  Various other breakfront bookcases with similar arched cornices include: Christie’s house sale, Childwick Bury, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, part 1, May 15, 1978, lot 104, illus.; Christie’s, New York, January 28, 1989, lot 199; Christie’s, New York, January 27, 1990, lot 185; Sotheby’s, London, November 29, 2000, lot 44.