Lot 113: A GREEN VERNIS MARTIN SÉCRETAIRE À ABATTANT STAMPED BOUDIN TWICE AND JME ONCE, LOUIS XVI, CIRCA 1775 |

the veined grey and white marble top above canted corners applied with beaded fluting, above a frieze drawer and a band of beaded guilloche and a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with leather inset writing surface and six small drawers veneered in tulipwood and amaranth, with a shelf and three pigeon holes above a pair of doors, the sides similarly mounted to the front with chinoiserie panels depicting figures in landscapes, the canted stiles with an acanthus cast corbel above a ribbon-tied floral and fruiting swag, the front panelled with a rectangle with concave corners, above two doors on bracket feet, the top left inside drawer with the printed paper label FILAINE ET COMPAGN... MARCHANDS Rue S. MARTIN, 23 MAIS 1776: restorations; the gilt-bronze mounts Restauration, circa 1825

142.5cm. high, 82cm. wide, 39.5cm. deep; 4ft. 8¼in., 2ft. 8¼in., 1ft. 3½in.

In overall good conserved condition. The detail to the lacquer is beautiful. Some minor shrinkage to the fall-front and the doors as visible from the catalogue photograph. Old very minor marks and chips to the gilding and lacquer commensurate with age and normal usage which can easily be touched up. Some hairline and construction cracks generally which do not detract from the piece and can be left as visible from the catalogue photograph.There is a horizontal crack in the writing surface which has age cracks which might benefit from some minor attention. There is a restored vertical crack in two drawer fronts which have been well executed and hardly noticeable. The coffre-fort is now missing.
"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."

D. Cooper, ed., Great Family Collections, London, 1965, p. 234, (illustrated in situ in the White Dining Room)
G. Worsley, 'Houghton' Country Life, 4th March 1993, p. 53, fig. 9 (illustrated in situ in the White Drawing Room).

Acquired by Sir Phillip Sassoon Bt., in October 1924 from L. Kraemer and fils, 2 Rue Tronchet, Paris, (for FF 100,000) for 25 Park Lane, W1 and recorded there in the Library in the pre-1927 and 1939 inventories. It was moved to the White Drawing Room at a later date.   
Thence by descent to his sister the Marchioness of Cholmondeley at Houghton Hall, the Houghton sale, Christie's, London, 8th December 1994, lot 74 (£160,000).
Partridge Fine Arts, London.