A SPANISH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, ROSEWOOD, AMARANTH AND MARQUETRY CYLINDER BUREAU

A SPANISH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, ROSEWOOD, AMARANTH AND MARQUETRY CYLINDER BUREAU

Attributed to José Canops (d. 1814), circa 1770-1775

Crossbanded overall and inlaid with scrolling strapwork, the shaped rectangular top with a central oval with ribbon-tied flowers and fleurs-de-lys to the corners, above a tambour roll-top inlaid with meandering ribbons and with scrolling foliate handles, enclosing a fitted interior with five drawers and three open compartments, above a sliding gilt-tooled green-leather-lined writing-surface with a hinged reading stand, above a central drawer inlaid with floral sprays, flanked by two drawers inlaid sans traverse to each side, above two secret compartments, the sides and back with musical trophies in a cartouche, on cabriole legs headed by scrolling acanthus, with lion-paw sabots, the drawers mahogany-lined, two locks stamped \'secure lever lock\', one lock stamped \'White & Sons secure two lever lock\', formerly with a complex locking system, all the drawers with an unexplainable set of holes, possibly a change of heart at the time of construction, with a vertical cut through the carcase, remounted

47½ in. (121 cm.) high; 66 in. (168 cm.) wide; 33 in. (84 cm.) deep