A fine George III inlaid mahogany and fruitwood marquetry breakfront bookcase in the manner of Mayhew and Ince circa 1775

the swan-neck broken pediment centering a tablet inlaid with faux-fluting above a break-fronted dentil-molded and fluted cornice, the conforming case centered by a pair of central glazed doors with ogee-arched glazing bars flanked by a pair of similar doors all inlaid with a roundel and trailing foliage to each corner, the lower section fitted to the center with a pair of cupboard doors with molded panels with concave corners flanked by a pair of identical doors all inlaid with a roundel with trailng foliage to each corner; the whole raised on a conforming plinth.

Hotspur, London
Acquired from the above by Mallett, London, 1954
The Collection of Cecil Millar, dealer and ex-President of BADA
The Property of a Lady, Christie's London, July 4, 1996, lot 338 (£60,000)
Mallett, London

The Connoisseur, April 1955
Edward T. Joy, The Country Life Book of English Furniture, 1969, p. 62, fig. 80

Overall very good condition. Interiors of upper section fitted with later removable upholstery including glass shelves as well as electrical lights for display. The cornice with some small restorations to fluting with very minor lifting to veneers to back right corner. The corners with some minor old worn nicks and wear. Appears to retain majority of old glass to central doors; left and right doors appear to have a number of replaced glass panels. The lower section is in good condition; the doors with very minor warpage, mainly seen in the central two doors; very minor age cracks along the lines of construction. Doors are made of solid mahogany and veneered with beautifully figured mahogany. The drawers with solid mahogany drawer fronts and appearing to retain original hardware. The plinth with two old mahogany veneer patches to the center; minor nicks and wear. Overall with a slightly glossy surface and in general very good condition; usual minor nicks and wear to extremities with beautiful color and figuring to the mahogany timbers. The inlaid satinwood foliage retaining much of the original penwork detail. The color slightly less red than in catalogue illustration.
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 breakfront bookcase is very similar to a bookcase formerly in the collection of Mrs. Mary Clapperton, Edinburgh, Scotland which was attributed to the firm of Mayhew and Ince which sold most recently in these rooms, October, 20, 2006, lot 90.