Strauss & co - 16 October 2017, Cape Town

116 324 A Cape teak escritoire, late 18th century the moulded arched pediment centred by a c-scroll and foliage above a pair of panelled doors and sides enclosing three shelves and a pair of drawers, the fall-front with later leather- lined writing surface, six drawers, three open compartments and a secret well above a faux drawer, on tapering octagonal legs joined by a wavy stretcher centred by an oval plaque inlaid with a bone and ebony compass, on bun feet, 239cm high, 117cmwide, 70cm deep R –  PROVENANCE The Dr William Frederick Purcell Collection and thence by descent. LITERATURE cf. Michael Baraitser & Anton Obholzer. (2004) Cape Antique Furniture , Cape Town: Struik Publishers, where a similar example is illustrated, page 320, plate 1342. 324