A GEORGE II MAHOGANY BUREAU CABINET circa 1750

the molded stepped cornice with dentil ornament below a similarly molded and ornamented broken pediment, the two doors below inset with mirror plates within shaped frames within conforming molding, and opening to an interior with a shelf and four small drawers, the lower part with a cleated fall front enclosing a writing surface and fitted with small drawers and pigeon holes centered by a door with a shaped panel opening to eight small drawers above four graduated drawers with cock-beading and supported on shaped ogee bracket feet.

In good restored condition with soft waxed finish Old scuffs, scratches and bruising overall commensurate with age. Upper part with some small age cracks to each side. Mirrors to doors later. Lower part with some old small age cracks to side and some to fall. Small patch to left hand upper outer frame to fall and replaced beading above lock. Small losses and repairs overall to drawers and cock beading and drawer frames and uprights. Old un-repaired cracks to feet. Interior with some old ink stains and slight tearing to veneered interior of fall following lines of construction.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The architectural form of this cabinet with its dentil cornice and shaped mirror plates is related to a number of labeled examples, in mahogany and with japanned decoration. Grendey (b. 1693-d.1780), of Aylesbury House, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, appears to have been one of the most prolific 'Cabinet-Maker and Chair-Makers' working in London , providing well-made furniture of good, if not spectacular, design. His business was obviously substantial and, although few documents have survived detailing his commissions and clients, a large number of pieces retain his trade label, allowing other pieces to be attributed to him on stylistic grounds. He is recorded as having an extensive export, one of his notable commissions being for the Duke of Infantando, Lazcano, Spain, some eighty pieces of scarlet and gold japanned furniture having survived at the Castle until the 1930s. Many of these retained his trade  label, and others were stamped with the initials of his workmen, some traceable to his recorded apprentices.

See:
Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture, Leeds, 1996, pp. 31, 32, and pp. 240, 241, figs. 432, 433