Puckering's Antiques

Description

About as good as they get, an exceptional quality Compendium or Table cabinet incorporating a beautiful lap desk or writing slope.

This magnificent piece is beautifully shaped and smothered in a riot of decoration. The front with raised panel, top and sides inlaid with Mother of Pearl, hand painted and framed with intricate gilding. The back is undecorated apart from the base, where the inlay, enamelling and gilding continues.

The cabinet comes complete with two working tasselled keys one for the lid and one for the doors. The lid is beautifully decorated with a hand painted scene and again inlaid with Mother of Pearl. The lid lifts to reveal the original fitted sewing compartments, once fitted with tools, spools and the like I suspect.

Once the doors are opened, the superb interior is revealed with a central mirrored door. The full width top drawer is a fully fitted jewellery tray. There are six smaller drawers, each inlaid and each with a carved Mother of Pearl pull to the front.

The hinged lid opens to reveal a huge tray perfect for very large pieces of jewelry or a collection of wrist watches, the tray is removable with a huge section below, plenty of room again for large pieces. This section has been professionally re-lined in green velvet, creating a fresh & clean finish.

The bottom tray is a very special piece alone, a full sized lap desk or writing box is revealed when fully removed. Beautifully decorated and fully fitted and retaining the original green velvet writing slope.

Dating to around 1860, this museum quality gem is set to impress, measuring 15 1/2" wide x 12 1/4" deep x 17" tall.

Item ID 36235A

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