A CHIPPENDALE PERIOD MAHOGANY WING BOOKCASE circa 1760

Commissioned by Daron Builta for a Private client (New York 5th Avenue apartment)

Designed by Gary Armstrong and Daron Builta LLC of New York with designs closely taken from the published Chippendale Directiore of 1753. Standing on a solid plinth of acanthus leaves and bell flowers this piece is made from specially chosen solid Swietenia Mahogany throughout and because of its dimensions this piece was made in 9 sections. The hand dovetailed drawer linings are constructed from solid Swietenia Mahogany and the drawer fronts are veneered in quarter sawn Swietenia Mahogany to echo the doors. Within one drawer is a leather lined sliding secretaire for a laptop computer and in the other drawers are leather lined lecterns and document storage. The lower doors have carved ornament of acanthus paterae in the concave corners with an astragal moulding of flower heads. Each door opens and can retract into the lower cabinet to reveal filing drawers, sliding fax machine and printer platforms and adjustable shelving. The upper bookcase centre section has a pair of 15 pained glazed doors with silk behind to conceal a television and the outer open cupboards contain adjustable shelving with hidden lighting. The dental entablature has a broken swan neck pediment decorated with acanthus leaves and a centre urn of water leaves and fabric swags whilst the drop side pediments feature scrolls of acanthus leaves and small dragooned urns. The finely cast brass handles are exact copies of the originals and are hand made using the lost wax process.