A rare small Elizabethan carved walnut court cup-board late 16th century

the upper tier with strapwork frieze, including conjoined heart motifs and with a drawer, the central tier with gadrooned frieze and stylised acanthus to each corner, one frieze return of oak and probably later, the lower tier with channelled apron and scroll angle brackets, the front supports of bulbous baluster form with gadrooning, the rear supports with leaf carving and subsequent cuts to facilitate removal, restoration to base

Tidy and with superb colour and patina. Some typical old traces of worm. Marks and wear throughout commensurate with age and use. The top with residual worm fragmenting especially to the rear rim and with some old traces of filler. Some chipping upper corners of frieze drawer. The top of the central tier with split along the front border and other partial splits. There is a separation on the front right corner. The lower tier with partial splits to top and old fragmenting on rear rim. Partial split in the front of the right square foot and a small old partial split in adjacent carved fluting. Some usual old slight losses on bulbous supports. The sides are tidy and the left side frieze return of the central tier is in oak and a replacement. . The rear stiles have been cut at some stage to divide this lot into two parts to facilitate moving but the stiles are now re-instated and does not divide. Feet re-tipped. This is an attractive small court cup-board and a rare example in walnut.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

For another very rare example in walnut, dated to 1590 see Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, Woodbridge, second edition, 1954, Vol. II, p. 178, fig. 1.

The use of walnut is rare as it is often more vulnerable to worm than oak, which makes the offered lot, with its superb patination and colour, all the more special.