A QUEEN ANNE INLAID BURR YEW TREE AND EBONIZED BUREAU CABINET OF DIMINUTIVE SIZE circa 1710

veneered with richly figured yewwood inlaid with boxwood stringing, the moldings ebonized, retaining the original brass domed circular drop-ring handles and shaped escutcheons, the upper part with a domed cornice above a conforming door with the original beveled mirror plate opening to a fitted interior with a central cupboard with a domed door, the frame with a keystone and with small compartments and drawers, the bureau below with a fall front opening to a velvet-lined writing surface and fitted with stepped drawers and pigeon holes above a long drawer, the sides each with a concealed candle slide, above a molded waist with a pull-out slide at each side, the lower one with a concealed, veneered folding slide above three graduated drawers over an arched apron and supported on later turned feet.

Wooley & Wallis, Fine Art Auctioneers, Salisbury, Wiltshire, January 1998, lot 380

See:

Geoffrey Wills,English Furniture 550-1760, London, 1971, p. 118

John Walker, Experts Choice, 1000 Years of the Art Trade, Exhibition Catalogue, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, April 22 to June 12, 1983, p. 94, G. Randall, Alexandria, p. 94, Black Japanned Bureau Cabinet, from the Prescott Collection

The Grosvenor House Antiques Fair Jandbook, London, June 11 to 20 June, 1998, Apter -Fredericks, London, Stand 78, pp. 106, 107, a Walnut Veneered Bureau Cabinet 

The upper section with some age cracks to domed top and with some areas of old worm, very minor chips to veneers, some pitting and minor losses to silvering of mirror glass, the middle section with some chips to the veneer and with two losses to the ebonized molded edge, later velvet lined writing surface to interior of slant front, the lower section with some areas of old worm, the pull-out /fold-out surface now with slight shrinkage to panels, the back right leg with old glue repair, the front right and back left legs slightly loose, some old worm to underside, overall with some old marks, scratches, scuffs and bruises.
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.

Of rare form, this small cabinet belongs to a small group of cabinets all of which are of the same small size, and appear to be the work of an as yet unknown highly skilled cabinetmaker. Besides the present example, another is recorded veneered in burr yew, formerly with Messrs. Apter-Fredericks, London, and now in a private collection in England, a green japanned example in the Gubbay Collection at Clandon Park, a black japanned example, formerly in the Prescott Collection, a  white japanned example, formerly in the Collection of the Viscount Leverhulme, and a brown japanned cabinet, sold Sotheby's, London, November 23, 2005.  All of these are virtually identical, with small variations to the overall design; the walnut example having a shaped drawer below the fall, the Gubbay and Mallett examples have carved gilt-gesso crests.  Two other red japanned cabinets related to the group are recorded (See: Lanto Synge, Mallett Millenium, 1999, p. 79, fig 76, but these have bombé form bases and lack the folding slide and candlestands, as does another black japanned example (0p. cit.).

The cabinetmaking found on the present example is of exceptional quality, the small interior drawers being constructed of extremely finely grained tropical hardwood. Aother interesting detail is found on the stops of the drawers - normally these are somewhat crudely cut blocks of wood, but those on this cabinet are carefully sized and chamfered.