What is a Georgian secretaire bookcase?

A Georgian secretaire bookcase is an 18th or early 19th-century furniture piece that combines an upper glass-fronted bookcase with a lower chest containing a fall-front writing drawer and storage compartments.

What materials were used to build Georgian secretaire bookcases?

These cabinets were primarily constructed using Cuban or West Indian mahogany, decorated with satinwood marquetry inlays, hand-blown glass panes, and cast brass fittings.

How can an authentic Georgian secretaire bookcase be identified?

Authentic period examples exhibit hand-cut dovetail joinery, original astragal glazing bars, hand-planed oak or pine secondary timbers, and historic locks showing natural wear.

How should a Georgian secretaire bookcase be integrated into a modern interior?

Set the cabinet against a painted focal wall in a home library or study, pairing the warm wood tones with neutral upholstery and modern decorative objects.

How do you care for a mahogany secretaire bookcase?

Maintain the surface by dusting with a lint-free cloth and applying beeswax annually, avoiding direct sunlight and proximity to heat sources to prevent timber shrinkage.

for sale €4,446 $4,826

£3,800

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Vintage Secretary Cabinet

Antique Secretaire Bookcase

Id #SA1203838

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Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

Name: Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1203838
Price: 3800 GBP
Availability: InStock

18th century

For Sale by Arrowsmith Antiques & Interiors

Description

A fine quality George III figured mahogany secretaire bookcase attributed to Gillows of Lancaster & London, comprising of upper bookcase compartment, writing desk compartment and lower cupboard storage space.

The glazed bookcase doors each have astragal moulding and are framed with satinwood crossbanding and boxwood and ebony string inlay, finished with brass astragal moulding and shield shaped inlaid bone key escutcheons. Inside the bookcase cupboard are 3 shelves, with fourteen slots allowing the shelves to be adjusted to different heights.

The cornice has boxwood and ebony triangular shaped inlay, with mahogany cushion moulding and satinwood crossbanding, and the frieze has fan and shell marquetry inlays.

Opening the drawer reveals a secretaire writing compartment which has a green baize writing surface and 10 satinwood drawers, each with decorative gilt brass knobs. There is an inkwell to one of the drawers, and 5 arched pigeon holes and a longer open compartment, ideal for storing a laptop.

The drawer face has a large shell inlay to the centre, with fan inlays to the corners and applied double reeded moulding finished with spear shape design. The drawer has satinwood crossbanding with ebony and boxwood string inlay, edged with cockbeaded moulding, and brass ring rope twist handles.

The lower section stands on bracket feet and has triple reeded moulding and consists of two doors, each with the same design as the drawer front. Inside the cupboard is a large storage space with a single height adjustable shelf.

The doors and drawers all have working locks and come with keys. The secretaire bookcase comes in two sections making it easy to move around.

Height - 228.5 cm (90 inches)

Width - 124 cm (48 ¾ inches)

Depth - 54.5 cm (21 ½ inches)

Circa - 1800

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Delivery is free for most of the mainland UK. If you are interested in purchasing and are outside the UK mainland or in the Scottish Highlands please get in touch first for a shipping quote. If you are an overseas buyer please contact us with your address so we can provide you with an accurate shipping quote and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

This item will be delivered by a trustworthy carrier and we aim to deliver within two weeks of purchase, but please allow three weeks. We use smaller carrier companies which take a bit longer but we would rather your item arrives at your door safely. Like our small items, our larger items are packaged well and protected.

All of our items can be collected.

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View more items on our website www.arrowsmithantiques.com

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Physical Dimensions

Height

228.5cm (89.96")

Width

124cm (48.82")

Depth

54.5cm (21.46")

Declaration

Arrowsmith Antiques & Interiors has dated this Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase to the Georgian era.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1203838

Dealers Notes

ABOUT - Arrowsmith Antiques & Interiors has been established in Macclesfield, Cheshire for 35 years. We sell high quality antique furniture, clocks, lighting and decorative items ready for your home, to the general public and interior designers around the world from our showroom. Our stock inventory consists of decorative Continental, English and Oriental items ranging from the 18th century through to the 20th century.

PAYMENT - We accept BACS payment but we also accept debit and credit card and PayPal through our own website. All items come with an invoice with description and age.

Description

The glazed bookcase doors each have astragal moulding and are framed with satinwood crossbanding and boxwood and ebony string inlay, finished with brass astragal moulding and shield shaped inlaid bone key escutcheons.

“

Inside the bookcase cupboard are 3 shelves, with fourteen slots allowing the shelves to be adjusted to different heights.

Arrowsmith Antiques & Interiors

fig 1. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 1. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

The cornice has boxwood and ebony triangular shaped inlay, with mahogany cushion moulding and satinwood crossbanding, and the frieze has fan and shell marquetry inlays.

Opening the drawer reveals a secretaire writing compartment which has a green baize writing surface and 10 satinwood drawers, each with decorative gilt brass knobs. There is an inkwell to one of the drawers, and 5 arched pigeon holes and a longer open compartment, ideal for storing a laptop.

fig 2. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 2. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

The drawer face has a large shell inlay to the centre, with fan inlays to the corners and applied double reeded moulding finished with spear shape design. The drawer has satinwood crossbanding with ebony and boxwood string inlay, edged with cockbeaded moulding, and brass ring rope twist handles.

fig 3. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 3. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

The lower section stands on bracket feet and has triple reeded moulding and consists of two doors, each with the same design as the drawer front. Inside the cupboard is a large storage space with a single height adjustable shelf.

fig 4. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 4. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

The doors and drawers all have working locks and come with keys. The secretaire bookcase comes in two sections making it easy to move around.

Height - 228.5 cm (90 inches)

Width - 124 cm (48 ¾ inches)

Depth - 54.5 cm (21 ½ inches)

fig 5. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 5. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

Circa - 1800

Delivery is free for most of the mainland UK. If you are interested in purchasing and are outside the UK mainland or in the Scottish Highlands please get in touch first for a shipping quote. If you are an overseas buyer please contact us with your address so we can provide you with an accurate shipping quote and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

fig 6. A Georgian mahogany secretaire bookcase featuring upper glazed doors with astragal bars above a pull-out writing drawer and lower panel doors with marquetry inlays. — fig 6. Georgian Mahogany Secretaire Bookcase

This item will be delivered by a trustworthy carrier and we aim to deliver within two weeks of purchase, but please allow three weeks. We use smaller carrier companies which take a bit longer but we would rather your item arrives at your door safely. Like our small items, our larger items are packaged well and protected.

All of our items can be collected.

View more items on our website www.arrowsmithantiques.com