19TH CENTURY CHINESE CANTON BLACK LACQUERED DESK CABINET

Description

19TH CENTURY CHINESE CANTON BLACK LACQUERED DESK CABINET, CIRCA 1830.

STUNNING QUALITY CHINESE EXPORT DESK, CIRCA 1830. MAIN FEATURE IS THE RARE ALABASTER DOORS WHICH HAVE BEEN HAND PAINTED BOTH SIDES AND ALLOWS THE LIGHT TO GLOW THROUGH WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN. TOP SECTION COMPRISES OF A SMALL DOOR WHICH WOULD OF HOUSED A POCKET WATCH, FLANKED EITHER SIDE BY 2 OPEN COMPARTMENTS. THE CENTRAL TABERNACLE WHICH CONTAINS AN ORIGINAL SILK WORK IN THE DOOR IS FLANKED EITHER SIDE BY 2 DRAWERS. (2 SMALL BONE HANDLES MISSING) THE TOP SECTION FINISHES WITH THE MAIN PULLOUT / PULL-OUT WRITING SURFACE. THE WRITING FLAP OPENS BOTH WAYS TO REVEAL STORAGE UNDERNEATH, PEN TRAYS EITHER SIDE. (RED FABRIC IS WORN AND DETACHED IN THE MIDDLE BUT ORIGINAL) THERE IS A LONG DRAWER ACCESSIBLE FROM 1 SIDE WHICH IS AS DEEP AS THE WHOLE CARCASS.

THE MIDDLE SECTION IS A REMOVABLE WRITING BOX, WITH HANDLES. FLAPS OPEN TO REVEAL A COMPARTMENTED LIFT UP TRAY, ALL DECORATED. SOME INTRICATE CARVED BONE BOTTLE HOLDERS (1 BONE HANDLE MISSING) UNDERNEATH THIS IS ANOTHER PULLOUT / PULL-OUT DRAWER WHICH ACTS AS ANOTHER WRITING SURFACE WITH ADJUSTABLE SLOPE. CORNICE IS REMOVABLE, FEATURING A GILT FLOWER FLANKED BY THE TYPICAL REGENCY SHAPE. STANDS ON TABLE WITH CABRIOLE LEGS AND BALL AND CLAW FEET. PROFUSELY HAND DECORATED WITH GILT SCENES, A REAL RARE PIECE.

SOME NATURAL FADING TO THE SURFACES AND LOSSES, CRACKING TO LACQUER, BUT IS IN TOTALLY ORIGINAL CONDITION.