Object Description
A Charming Georgian 18th Century George 1 Period
Oak Escritoire, Or Secrétaire Tallboy, Of Very Unusual
Design Having Various Drawers Surrounding Central
Fall Front Enclosing Further Small Drawers, Pigeon
Holes & Cupboard Doors, With Elegant Crossbanded
Decoration Throughout Raised On Elegant
Shaped Bracket Feet
(This charming early 18th century oak piece is most unusual
for a variety of reasons. Firstly it is almost a sort of hybrid
between a typical escritoire and tallboy/chest on chest as
normally escritoires would be found with the fall front taking
up the entire top section. Secondly it is most unusual to find an
escritoire from the early 18th century constructed in oak, they
nearly always constructed from walnut. Not only is it made of oak
but over the years the oak has retained a wonderful mellow colour
and patina and the piece has a real warmth to it. The handles are old
and very much of the style it would originally have had, but there is
some very minor evidence that at some point in its history it has had
a different set of handles put on it at some point. Who knows, maybe
somebody changed the handles to something different and more in
fashion during victorian times but actually had the foresight to retain
its original handles as well which have since been screwed back into
place? The piece also retains its original feet and overall is in relatively
excellent condition for its age and is very much fit for original function
and purpose even 300 years after the day it was made.)