A Fine and Rare Queen Anne Red-Japanned and Parcel-Gilt Bureau Cabinet circa 1710

in two parts; the upper section with broken pediment centered and flanked by plinths above a pair of arched mirror-inset doors opening to an interior fitted with two long drawers and valenced pigeonholes above a mirrored prospect door, above a recess and a drawer, flanked by stop-fluted pilaster document slides, folio compartments and small drawers, all over two long drawers, flanked by drawers with arched recesses and deep drawers, with candle slides, the waisted lower section fitted with a slant front opening to a later leather-lined writing surface, a sliding panel, and an interior fitted with a mirrored prospect door flanked by stop-fluted pilaster document slides, valenced pigeonholes over drawers and stepped sides, the lowermost fitted with drawers and secret drawers at the back, all over two short over two long graduated drawers, raised on later bracket feet, decorated overall in tones of gold with raised decoration on a scarlet japanned ground with sprays of flowers, birds and flower within diapered reserves, the fall front with at the right a group of three standing figures in oriental dress before rockwork with flowering trees and plants and two other figures similarly dressed at the center, one seated with a parasol, the drawers below with other scenes with figures, pavilions, animals, trees and flowers; a small interior drawer signed Daniel Massey, a long drawer with the initials DM, and a third drawer in a different hand with the initials DM and W; all of the drawers with numbers in red paint; the backs of the secret drawers with penciled inscription gauche and dr; both sections signed on the back DM and RF.  Losses to japanning, plinths to cresting later, bracket feet later; formerly fitted with bun feet, handles replaced.

Sotheby's, New York, April 19, 2001, lot 469, The Property of a Philadelphia Collector

The cornice with areas of old worm damage, hole to inside right panel of cornice, the exterior mirror plates later and with pitting and minor losses to silvering, the interior mirror glass with losses and pitting to silvering, the interior decoration refreshed, some age cracks to the upper section with areas of old worm throughout, the lower section with slight rippling to side panels, the slant front with chip to left molded edge, originally on ball feet, overall with numerous chips and losses to painted surface with areas of inpainting, and with some old marks and scratches, finials re-gilt.
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.

A bureau-cabinet in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, of very similar form to the offered lot is illustrated by Oliver Brackett, Catalogue of English Furniture & Woodwork, London, 1927, vol. III, Late Stuart to Queen Anne, pl. 39, no. 1091, acc. no. 34-1913.  The outline of the two is identical with the exception of a serpentine apron to the Victoria and Albert cabinet.  The offered cabinet is more elaborate in its interior with two drawers above the pigeonholes with more refined valances, banks of small drawers flanking the document slots, and mirrored prospect doors to both upper and lower sections.  Both have the same configuration in the upper section of long drawers flanked by coved small drawers and deep drawers.  The Victoria and Albert example has rounded stop-fluted pilasters slides.

An almost identical bureau cabinet formerly belonging to Queen Mary and thence by descent to H.R.H the Duke of Windsor, was sold, Christie's, London, July 18, 1957, lot 34.  It was later owned by Merle Oberon and was sold, Sotheby's, Los Angeles, November 19-20, 1973, lot 34.  With Edwin H. Herzog (Antiques) Ltd., it was given to the Pierpont Morgan Library, subsequently sold, Christie's, New York, October 17, 1981, bought by Wendell Cherry and sold from his Estate, Christie's, New York, October 12, 1996, lot 277.  It shares the same interior configuration with flat stop-fluted pilaster slides.

The cabinet has several drawers with the inked initials DM and one drawer with the inked signature Daniel Massey. The back of the upper section is painted in red with the initials DM and RF, the lower section DM & RF.  Intriguingly, a japanner and cabinet-maker Abraham Massey (or Massay), at 'The Two White Posts', Great Queen Street, St. Giles-in-the-Fields, is listed in The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, Beard and Gilbert, Leeds: W.S. Maney and Son, 1986, p. 585. His obituary in the General Advertiser, on January 18, 1746 read: 'A few days ago died, at his House in Great Queen Street, Mr. Abraham Massay, said to be the most eminent Japanner in England'.  Whether this is possibly the father of son of Daniel Massey, remains to be determined from further research.