Georgian Secretaire Chest on Chest 18th Century

Name: Georgian Secretaire Chest on Chest - Circa 1720.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1207541
Price: 3500 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing

ObjectChests of Drawers
Period18th century
StyleEarly Georgian
MaterialWalnut, Brass
ColourWarm Brown
MotifsFall-front desk, Bracket feet, Brass escutcheons, Internal pigeonholes
SizeH 165 cm (65 in) x W 100 cm (39 in) x D 56 cm (22 in)

This early Georgian walnut secretaire chest on chest stands 165 cm high, 100 cm wide, and 56 cm deep in a warm brown timber finish. The upper section contains a moulded cornice above two small drawers and two long drawers, resting on a lower base of three further long drawers supported by bracket feet. The middle section drops open via a fall-front desk to reveal an interior fitted with six pigeonholes and four small compartments. Throughout the piece, the drawer faces display featherbanding and later engraved brass drop handles paired with matching keyhole escutcheons. Positioned in a study or library, this practical storage item provides both a writing surface and extensive drawer capacity for household paperwork or clothing. The solid wood construction exhibits natural signs of age and wear across the timber surfaces in line with its eighteenth-century period origin. The oak-lined drawers operate smoothly while the bracket feet elevate the substantial cabinet off the floor, combining traditional craftsmanship with functional utility for contemporary living spaces.

FAQs

A Georgian secretaire chest on chest, also known as a tallboy with a writing drawer, is a two-part wooden cabinet developed in the early eighteenth century. It combines a upper chest and a lower chest of drawers, with one drawer engineered as a pull-out or fall-front desk fitted with internal pigeonholes and small compartments.

Pieces from the early Georgian period (circa 17141760) were predominantly constructed using figured walnut veneers over pine or oak carcasses, transitioning later to solid mahogany. Construction features include hand-cut dovetail joints, oak drawer linings, brass batwing or plate escutcheons, and pine dustboards between drawers.

Authentic eighteenth-century examples exhibit signs of hand-craftsmanship, such as irregular hand-cut dovetails, original pine or oak backboard panels with hand-planed finishes, and natural shrinkage gaps along timber joints. The brass hardware should show age-appropriate oxidisation and cast marks, while the piece itself will split into two distinct upper and lower sections for transport.

A tallboy functions well as a focal point in a master bedroom, formal living room, or home office. Its vertical proportion maximizes storage without occupying excessive floor space, while the fold-down drawer provides a functional concealed workspace for laptops or stationery.

Preserve the finish by keeping the piece away from direct heat sources and sunlight to prevent timber shrinkage and veneer bleaching. Apply a high-grade beeswax paste once or twice a year with a soft cloth, following the grain, and avoid chemical aerosol polishes.

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Georgian Secretaire Chest on Chest - Circa 1720.