About this lot
Description
A pair of Italian baroque gilt bronze and tortoiseshell mounted ebonised cabinets, 18th century,
each centred by a niche with a bronze figure of Athena standing holding a shield, flanked to each side by a pair of Tuscan columns, the cabinet door opening to reveal five drawers fitted with small ring handles, the bottom drawer concealing a further secret drawer to the back, the portico flanked to each side by four drawers, the sides inset with geometrical parquetry each with a heavy cast iron carrying handle, one cabinet raised on ball feet, the other on claw and ball feet
72 x 128 x 42cm
Provenance:
Believed to have been purchased by Mr Stuart Fearnley of Rose Green Farm, Lindsey, Suffolk in the late 1930’s at a country auction in or in the environs of Hadleigh, Suffolk, and thence by decent to the current owner.
Condition report:
There are minor losses and cracks to the surface in areas. Some staining and minor losses to the tortoiseshell in areas. Loss of ebonised veneer to the bottom right corner of one cabinet. One metal escutcheon is missing from a drawer, one is loose and would benefit from tightening. One figure of Athena to the front is missing her spear, the wooden block under the other figure appears to have been replaced. One small ring handle is missing to a drawer to the interior. The handles to the sides have left heavy marks and dents to the side panels due to use and age. Each cabinet has four construction holes to the centre top possibly indicating a missing upper structure or further bronze figurines now lacking.
Minor losses to the circular brass inlays around the drawers. The wooden ball feet are later.
These cabinets would benefit from a sympathetic restoration but remain however overall in good condition
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