An Empire ormolu mounted mahogany secretaire a abattant Circa 1815, the marble top has been prev...

An Empire ormolu mounted mahogany secretaire a abattant Circa 1815, the marble top has been previously damaged and is currently split into two sections The marble top above one long frieze drawer mounted with two opposing seated and crouching bacchantes with a nearby bacchic boy tending to a central elongated wicker basket replete with vine leaves and grapes, flanked by two bacchic boys, a leopard and ram, with protrudingswan form and laurel wreath mounted angles, above a hinged fall enclosing a burr elm veneered interior with one long frieze drawer over one shelf flanked by mounted engine turned Doric columns, with one central deep drawer and four short drawers below, flanked by engaged columns each mounted with a stiff leaf and beaded acanthus cast capital and with palmette cast baluster bases, above a pair of doors mounted sans traverse with an arrow dividing an olive leaf wreath, enclosing three long drawers, an incomplete paper label to the interior is inscribed in ink: '...Bureau belongs to... Angerstein Lancelot Smythies... given (?) to (?)... him on his 21st Birthday by Georgiana Angerstein, his Grandmother, and given to her by his father-in-law, William Angerstein, it was in his bedroom at Weeting Hall, Brandon, Norfolk', 97cm wide x 43.5cm deep x 143.5cm high, (38in wide x 17in deep x 56in high) Footnotes: Provenance The offered lot originally belonged to William Angerstein who was the uncle of John Julius Angerstein (1735-1823). The latter's collection, which was purchased by the government in 1824, formed the core of the National Gallery, in London. Evidently, the present secretaire was gifted to Georgiana Angerstein by William Angerstein, who was the former's father-in-law. Subsequently, it went to Angerstein Lancelot Smythies on his 21st birthday via his grandmother, Georgiana, and thereafter must have passed by descent within the family for some time. Much later on, it was purchased Dreweatt Neat, Donnington Priory, Donnington, 6 November 2002, Yuki House and Studio Sale, lot 69. Thereafter, property of a private UK collector. A comparable Empire secretaire a abattant, with predominantly virtually identical ormolu mounts as well as the same configuration to the offered lot, sold Christie's, London, 18 June 1987, Important French Furniture, lot 135. Both of these examples closely relate to another model which forms part of a suite in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris. The latter of which appears illustrated in L. de Groer, Les Arts Decoratifs de 1790 a 1850, 1985, p. 111, no. 193. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP TP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information. For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing