Anonymous, Mexican (Late 17th-Early 18th Century)

Private collection, Madrid

Virginia Armella de Aspe and Guillermo Tovar de Teresa, Labores de Ebanistería en la Nueva España, Mexico City, 1994, p. 30, illustrated

Overall in fair condition with the usual dents, nicks, bruises and minute losses to veneer consistent with age and use. The top of the upper section shows extensive worm damages. The overall cabinet has been refinished with a later varnish or French polish. The fall front door used as a writing surface shows a long vertical crack visible on the internet illustration should one zoom in the picture. The vertical crack shows through on both sides with losses to the veneer on both sides and along the edge of the crack. The door is slightly warped showing now a slight bow and such consistent with wood shrinkage and swelling. The frieze drawer shows losses to veneer to upper left hand side corner and to the vertical banding right in the middle at the keyhole. The lower section doors open to 15 small drawers and a secret niche. The edges of each drawers show chips and the face of each drawers are slightly warped. There are losses to the veneer around each keyhole. Extensive chips and wear around each foot. The feet are later replacement. The lock plate of the fall front is bent. As stated at the beginning of the condition report, there are bruises, hairline cracks, chips and dents which can be seen throughout the piece. The secreataire is constructed using two 17th century cabinets. Both originally had fall fronts. The bottom cabinet now has two doors. In the 19th century these two cabinets were made into a fall-front secrétaire by the addition of a later base with feet, doors to the base section, concave-sided section in the middle and cresting with one long drawer to the top.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.