Measuring 7ft 3in by 8ft 5in (2.22 x 2.57m) the bookcase, which had an arched moulded dentil pediment with a marquetry star roundel above a pair of central astragal glazed doors flanked by further glass doors, wasn’t in great condition. With bits of the grill missing to the top, missing veneer and some of the moulding in need of replacing, auctioneer Ryan Beach (who set up Anthemion in March 2000 after Phillips, his former employers, closed their Cardiff salerooms) thought it would make around £8000-12,000. So it was to his great surprise when a local lady currently changing all her oak furniture to mahogany contested it to a winning £27,500 (plus VAT on the
hammer price plus 15 per cent buyer’s premium).
Regency mahogany secretaire bookcase sells for £27,500
With the recent closure of numerous manufacturing depots belonging to a Cardiff company, the time came to dispose of items from the manager’s flat. The best of these items, all of which were sold on November 20 at the Cardiff rooms of Anthemion Auctions, was this Regency mahogany secretaire bookcase.
