18th Century Georgian Oak Escritoire

A charming Georgian 18th century George I period Oak Escritoire, or Secrétaire Tallboy, of very unusual design.

Having various drawers surrounding central fall front enclosing further small drawers, pigeon holes and 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 are 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.

Circa 1720.

Height - 64.5in.
Width - 38in.
Depth - 21in.

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

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