A Regency Secretaire Cabinet Attributed to George Oakley, C1810

A superb Regency secretaire cabinet, of elegant proportions, in a wonderfully rich mahogany, attributed to the renowned cabinet maker George Oakley, London, circa 1810.

The top section of this cabinet has a classical architectural pediment with shaped acroteria at the four corners, with contrasting stringing to all edges, possibly Gonçalo Alves. Below are a pair of astragal-glazed doors to the bookcase section, enclosing two adjustable shelves.

The lower part of the cabinet consists of a deep secretaire drawer, encasing a beautifully fitted interior of seven Gonçalo Alves or rosewood and mahogany-lined drawers and four satinwood-detailed pigeon holes. The drop-down front of the secretaire drawer has classical stylised Greek-key line inlay of ebony and is supported by brass quadrants. The inset dark green and gilt-tooled leather writing surface appears to be the original skiver, with no tears to the centre folding line.

Also, and most unusually for this type of cabinet, there are three graduated, full-width drawers with ebony stringing below the secretaire, instead of the two-door cupboard normally found on this form. This is a rare variation on the design; comparable examples of this type of cabinet are few.

Size: 167.5cm H x 46cm D x 77.5cm W

In excellent condition commensurate with age, showing some minor losses and restorations, including small historical repairs to chipped veneer and stringing.

Additional photographs are available on request.

This piece is one of only a small number of secretaire cabinets, of compact and elegant proportions, attributable to George Oakley.

One similar cabinet of the same form is displayed in the M H de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco; one is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art; and a further secretaire cabinet on display, though without the classical pediment, can be seen in the Furniture Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Galleries, room 120, the Wolfson Galleries.

George Oakley, c1760–1840, was established at No. 22 Southside, St. Paul's Churchyard, London, and also at No. 8 Old Bond Street, London. The firm received the patronage of the Prince of Wales, who later became the Prince Regent and then King George IV in 1820. The Royal Warrant was granted in 1799.

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