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William & Mary period, circa 1680, walnut & inlaid escritoire, English. Extremely rare as not many of these exceptional pieces were made and few survive outside of museums; undoubtedly made for a member of the nobility. Exuberant marquetry decoration on ebony ground and with a walnut piece with rampant lion motifs. Every inlaid reserve relates to the motif, yet no floral panel is repeated. The foremost collectible flowers of the 17th century are represented. The writing fall reveals a sophisticated interior, including many secret drawers. Percy MacQuoid’s “The Age of Walnut” features a comparable example owned by the Duke of Beaufort for Badminton House. According to Billy Cook of Cook of Marlborough Fine Art Ltd, High Trees House, Wiltshire, when he sold it to Dr. John Fryer, 6/20/1999, this piece was known to have been “owned by the Jupe family for three family generations”. See the inscriptions on the reverse of the reading fall dated 1821, 1851 & 1855. Fading, various veneer losses, restorations, marks & scuffs commensurate with age & use.

67″ h., 38″ w., 20″ d.

William & Mary period, circa 1680, walnut & inlaid escritoire, English. Extremely rare as not many of these exceptional pieces were made and few survive outside of museums; undoubtedly made for a member of the nobility. Exuberant marquetry decoration on ebony ground and with a walnut piece with rampant lion motifs. Every inlaid reserve relates to the motif, yet no floral panel is repeated. The foremost collectible flowers of the 17th century are represented. The writing fall reveals a sophisticated interior, including many secret drawers. Percy MacQuoid’s “The Age of Walnut” features a comparable example owned by the Duke of Beaufort for Badminton House. According to Billy Cook of Cook of Marlborough Fine Art Ltd, High Trees House, Wiltshire, when he sold it to Dr. John Fryer, 6/20/1999, this piece was known to have been “owned by the Jupe family for three family generations”. See the inscriptions on the reverse of the reading fall dated 1821, 1851 & 1855. Fading, various veneer losses, restorations, marks & scuffs commensurate with age & use.

67″ h., 38″ w., 20″ d.