An Irish George III marquetry and penwork decorated satinwood secrétaire chest, circa 1785, attributed to William Moore of Dublin

the fall front drawer enclosing an arrangement of pigeon holes above one long drawer flanked by eight short drawers with ivory handles and replaced baize lining, over four long drawers, the reverse with inscription Charlotte E*** / Feb 22 1865, restorations

Probably supplied to William Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1809);
Thence by descent

This piece is in conserved condition. with marks and scratches consistent with age and use, especially around the handles which have been remounted and to the surface of the drawer fronts and the top. There are losses to the cockbeading and small losses & replacements to the veneers. Feet reduced in height. The secretaire will require a new baise top which has a significant age crack to the interior and losses to the ivory handles. Escutcheon lacking to the lock of fall front. Penwork decoration faded. An attractive academic lot.
"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."

COMPARATIVE LITERAURE

W. A. Thorpe, 'William Moore, Inlayer', Country Life, 3 May 1946, p.806, fig.1;
Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert (eds.), Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, London, 1986, p. 622;
The Knight of Glin and James Peill, Irish Furniture, London, 2007, p. 163, fig. 220.

This elaborately decorated neoclassical secrétaire chest was almost certainly produced by the noted Dublin cabinet-maker William Moore (active c.1782-1815). The apparently upside down bell flower husks to the canted corners feature on a number of pieces by him, including a commode supplied by Moore to the 3rd Duke of Portland in 1782 (Thorpe, op. cit., pg. 806, fig. 1 and Glin & Peill, op. cit., p. 163, fig. 220).

William Moore learned his trade from the great Golden Square cabinet-makers John Mayhew and William Ince, and there are striking parallels between the output of the two firms. Moore moved to Dublin sometime before 1782 and in May that year placed an advertisement in the Dublin Evening Post announcing that he 'most respectfully acknowledges the encouragement he has received, begs leave to inform those who may want Inlaid work, that by his close attention to business and instruction to his men, he has brought the manufacture to such perfection, to be able to sell for almost one half his original prices' (Beard & Gilbert, op. cit., p. 622). The advert clearly had the desired effect as business boomed at his Abbey Street and Capel Street premises.

Deriving from French secrétaire à abattant, the form of this cabinet is comparatively rare in Georgian furniture. A related example attributed to Moore was sold Sotheby's London, Important English Furniture, 4 July 1997, lot 74 (£36,000).