A mahogany secretary, forming a chest of drawers, opening with four drawers and a flap revealing seven drawers, four of which are in a

A mahogany secretary, forming a chest of drawers, opening with four drawers and a flap revealing seven drawers, four of which are in a pivoting case revealing five other secret drawers, several compartments and a sliding shelf, with a secret drawer concealed by a sliding panel, decorated with printed fabric panels, the central panel octagonal in shape after an engraving by Antoine Boizot (1702-1782) entitled the genius of painting, the lower part with detached columns; (small accidents).
Germany or Russia, late 18th-early 19th century.
H 148 x W 111 x D 63 cm
Provenance: Galerie Frémontier, circa 1991
Le génie de la peinture, engraving after Antoine Boizot.

The highly original idea of incorporating fabric panels on late 18th-century neoclassical mahogany furniture is also illustrated by the production of the famous German-born cabinetmaker settled in Russia, Heinrich Gambs (1765-1831), notably with several pieces of furniture trimmed with embroidery preserved in the Pavlovsk Palace (St Petersburg).