Near Pair of Secretary Bookcases

This is a lovely, decorative Italian secretary, painted overall with floral sprays against a pale yellow ground with light blue demarcations. The dom...

PRESENTING a STUNNING 19C Large Irish Georgian Style Secretary Bookcase. From circa 1850-60 and most definitely, “IRISH”. Made of gorgeous flamed Cuban mahogany which would have been imported from the British Colonies at the end of the 18th Century and early 19th Century. This piece of is of IMPRESSIVE PROPORTIONS. It is a real STATEMENT piece and of EXTREMELY HIGH QUALITY. It has a very ‘Regency Style’ pelmet or crown with egg and dart moldings under a very straight line crown. The top section consists of a 4 door bookcase, each with 3 shelving areas. It appears to retain it’s original glass, but it could likewise have been replaced at some time during it’s long life, as it is very rare to find pieces that have not suffered breakages over 150+ years. Each bookcase door still retains the original moldings to the front with a star shape above and below a central circular viewing panel. Each section is separated by a carved and fluted roman column/pillar. The bookcase section rests on top of the base, which consists of a beautiful central secretaire desk accessed by drop down front with working lock and key and rests on 2 pull out rests on either side. The secretary portion has a central tabernacle, with an inlaid oval satinwood medallion above another scallop shell drawer. It has 6 smaller drawers and 8 cubbies. The 2 pillars on either side of the central tabernacle are secret drawers and pull out. The curved crowns above the cubbies on either side are likewise secret drawers and pull out. Either side of the secretary there are 2 drawers (4 total) with a press or cupboard underneath. Under the secretary there are 4 large central drawers. The brasses and hardware are all original to the piece (save 2 extra hinges that have been attached to the drop down secretary to give it more support and stability. Again, each section is separated by a turned and fluted column/pillar which replicates the 2 side pillars to the central tabernacle of the secretary. The piece sits on 8 curved feet. This was an extremely high quality piece when made. This is also supported by the fact that the secondary woods are also mahogany and not pine or oak for slightly lesser quality pieces of the era. This piece is specifically identifiable as an Irish Georgian Style piece by virtue of the scallop shell moldings on the base side presses (see photos). Irish Georgian furniture...