Rare George I Mahogany maritime Bureau Cabinet
August 10 2010, 12:45pm
This George I mahogany maritime bureau cabinet is an extremely rare and special early 18th century commission, due to its unusual form and special characteristics in type of wood and method of manufacture. Uniquely, the cabinet is entirely constructed of imported mahogany from Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Cuba, including the interior pigeonholes and drawer linings, which are otherwise usually made of oak. The use of shoot bolts on the shutter doors are also a feature of great rarity.
The interior is fitted with pigeonholes for substantial mercantile correspondence.
Most of the pigeonholes, particularly on the left and right sides are labeled with the names of various ports located in Europe and the Americas. The remaining niches appear to be reserved for correspondence with important government officials such as the Secretary of State, Board of Trade, treasurer and trustees, and Prince Frederick. There are also niches for recompense (presumably of goods) from the year 1727 (Reprisatia Anno. 1727) and memorandums from bodies of governance (Iunta [Junta] Memorialls).
We can infer from apparent special access to the imported materials, as well as the original ink labels, that the present cabinet must have once belonged to an important maritime businessman, involved in trade which carried him across the globe.
