QUEEN MARY'S PERSONAL SECRETAIRE BOOKCASE - THE ROYAL YACHT:...

Estimate

£5,000 - £8,000

QUEEN MARY'S PERSONAL SECRETAIRE BOOKCASE - THE ROYAL YACHT: H.M.S. MEDINA: 1911-1912 CORONATION EXPEDITION TO INDIA, 'THE DURBAR'. DESIGNED & MADE FOR HER MAJESTY BY WARING & GILLOW.
The 'Connoisseur' magazine dated November 1911. describes the kitting out of the Royal Yacht, H.M.S. Medina, by the famous cabinet making company Warings & Gillows who had been personally commissioned by Her Majesty, Queen Mary, to specially design & make all the furniture for her & King George V's quarters, which were on the starboard and port sides of the yacht. The Editor of the Connoisseur magazine was invited onboard H.M.S. Medina once all the works had been completed, and a thorough description with pictures was compiled. Research by the vendor at the Royal Greenwich Observatory research library revealed an original black & white photograph showing this magnificent piece on the left hand side of Queen Mary's bed with a matching one on the other side. The piece itself was created using the finest Brazilian mahogany inlaid with satinwood and kingwood cross banded veneers. The original leather remains on the secretaire for historic posterity, as it shows ink spills possibly from rough weather when Queen Mary would have been writing letters & diary inclusions.
On the return of H.M.S. Medina in June 1912, all the Royal furniture was taken off the yacht for an exhibition of the Royal Quarters of the King and Queen's apartments aboard H.M.S. Medina. It was advertised in the then fledgling magazine 'Homes & Gardens'. The exhibition opened at the Waring & Gillow shop on Bond Street, London. The furniture was then sent to auction and this piece was most likely painted after WWI by its new owner.
Due to its royal connections the handles are solid silver as are the locks, an extremely unusual feature. On the inside of the Drawer is a Bronze engraved plate stating, 'HMS MEDINA' used for the state visit to India, TM the King & Queen 1911-12, Warings, London.
A truly magnificent & important Royal Masterpiece. Beautifully proportioned & dainty. Small & usable. Height 6ft. x 15ins. x 16ins.