A fine George II Mahogany Breakfront Secretaire Cabinet on Stand Circa 1750

the breakfronted upper section with a dentil-carved molded cornice centered by a swan-neck broken pediment ending in flower heads, the case centered by a glazed central door opening to an adjustable shelf an folio shelves above a long drawer and flanked by a pair of paneled cupboard doors each opening to a shelf above a dummy drawer, the conforming lower section centered by a secretaire drawer opening to an arrangement of small drawers and pigeon holes and flanked by a pair of dummy drawers all above a foliate-carved apron raised on tied acanthus-carved cabriole legs ending in pierced claw and ball feet.  One drawer bearing a paper label printed SOLD BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTORS OF / The Late SIR ERNEST ROYDEN, BART.

Sir Ernest Royden, Bart., Frankby Hall, Chester or Hillbark/Bidston Court

Overall good condition; the swan neck pediment with some chips and losses to top of right flower head terminal and losses to top of molded tip of cornice; flower head terminals with some restorations; front corners of cornice each with a long thin chip, back left corner of cornice with a chip and some restoration; one backboard to the central section now drilled with a hole 2-inches in diameter; some age cracks to backboards; bottom left triangular glass pane lacking; the door once fitted with a shade/screen to the backside as the top and bottom rails have infilled holes; bottom left corner of cabinet with a chip to the veneer; the lower section with losses to the corner moldings above the central right leg and to central right breakfront; secretaire drawer lacking cockbeaded edge to left and right sides; the claws to feet are mostly in tact with some replacements; the legs with old scratches and scuffs consistent with age and use; overall with some ware to extremities; lovely figuring to the mahogany and the piece is mostly made of solid mahogany panels throughout with oak secondary woods.
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.

The present secretaire cabinet on stand belongs to a group of very similar cabinets executed in walnut as well as mahogany and most closely related to one from the Moller collection of English furniture, which sold at Sotheby's, London, November 18, 1993, lot 84.  Like the one in the Moller collection, the present cabinet has an identical central glazed door, and the cabriole legs are carved with similar tied acanthus leaves leading to claw and ball feet.  Other similar examples include one, formerly in the Percival Griffiths collection and sold at Christie's, London, May 10, 1939, lot 255 (illustrated); another illustrated in R. W. Symonds, English Furniture from Charles II to George II, 1980, p. 85, figs. 62-63.; and another walnut example illustrated in M. Harris & Sons, A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art from Late Sixteenth Century to Early Nineteenth Century, Part II, c. 1730 to c. 1780,  privately printed, c. 1939, p. 177.