Pictures, Furniture, Clocks & Rugs

VICTORIAN PAPIER MACHE WORK CABINET ON STAND, probably by John Joseph Mechi, the hinged cover with silk lined interior above a pair of panelled doors enclosing two fitted drawers and a further drawer enclosing a removable rosewood writing slope, the ink and vesta boxes gilt stamped MECHI, 4 LEADENHALL ST, a barleytwist column and quatripartite base with scrolling legs and ceramic castors, the whole with gilt scrolling framed painted scenes of peacocks and other birds in neo-classical gardens, the cupboard doors painted with parrots with flowers and fruit, height 98cm, width 44cm, depth 36cm Provenance: Listed in the Inventory of Mrs R Miller's property at p46 of "Articles of Furniture and Ornament bought for 44 Montague Square, London W1" as purchased from I Staal, 138 Brompton Road, SW3 in April 1951 for £95. It is described there as "A Painted Victorian Work Cabinet of papier-mache, circa 1850". Sold by Mrs R Miller (then of Periteau House, Winchelsea, Sussex) to Bragge and Sons, Rye, circa 1975. *The catalogue for the Great Exhibition 1851 illustrates a comparable work table by MECHI, page 739.