A GERMAN GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED ROSEWOOD AND WALNUT BUREAU-CABINET, DRESDEN, FIRST HALF OF 18TH CENTURY |

the cupboard door with bevelled mirror plate opening to reveal a fitted burr walnut interior of an arrangement of seventeen drawers surrounding a single door, opening to reveal two further short drawers, above a shallow frieze drawer, the lower section with a fall front enclosing a fitted interior opening to reveal eight short drawers and one long drawer over two short and three long drawers, raised on ogee bracket feet, formerly with finials

Christie's London, Important English Furniture and Carpets, 11 April 1985, lot 138;
Acquired from Hotspur Ltd., 1985.

An impressive cabinet in overall good restored condition. Top probably missing cresting or statuettes to corners and central pediment. Some restorations and replacements to veneers and mouldings throughout, entirely consistent with age and use. Surface re-polished. One section of moulding edge lacking to the top of lower section on the right and left handside although there are a number of loose pieces which could be re-attached and most if not all the mouldings are present. The sides of the cabinet with age cracks and the splits to the lower section would benefit from further attention. Mirror plate with significant scratch to silvering across middle but otherwise nicely aged. Wooden panel securing mirror plate is fixed, but precarious. Fall front bowing slightly but interior in overall excellent condition. Small loss to veneer beneath lower drawer and drawer fronts bowing slightly, consistent with age and use. Oak drawer lining with splits and generally the piece would benefit from further minor cosmetic attention. A handsome piece of 18th century German case furniture.
"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 LITERATURE Haase, G. Dresdener Möbel des XVIII jahrhunderts, Leipzig, 1983, p. 280, fig. 76;
Meisterwerke des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts: Kunstgewerbemuseum Dresden in Schloss Pillnitz, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 1996, pp.62-63, fig. 33.

The present cabinet was almost certainly conceived as one of a pair. The likely companion bureau-cabinet is illustrated inter alia by G. Haase (op. cit., p. 280) and was formerly in the collection of the Royal Court of Saxony at Schloß Moritzburg (Inv. No. 42 350). The bureau-cabinet was restituted in the late 20^th century and is now on view at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Pillnitz. Tantalisingly there is no record of the present cabinet in any of the historic inventories of Schloß Moritzburg.