Philadelphia Classical Mahogany Cylinder-Front Secretary Bookcase, Attributed to Anthony G. Quervelle, Circa 1825

Monumental Philadelphia classical secretary-bookcase in three sections: a bookcase section with a flat, projecting cornice above egg-and-dart molding and a highly figured mahogany arched frieze over a pair of glazed cabinet doors with Sheraton tracery flanked by carved columns; a slightly wider and deeper middle case with a pair of blocked short drawers with original cut-glass pulls above a cylinder desk of mahogany veneer, opening to a fitted interior with an adjustable leather-lined writing surface, eight pigeonholes, four short drawers, and four false drawers faced in figured maple with ebony knobs, flanked by cabinets with coved tops over arched, columned doors; and a pedestal-end base with a central bolection-molded drawer over a kneehole opening spanned by a carved oak-leaf wreath with anthemia in the spandrels, raised on carved animal-paw feet at front and turned feet at back. Retains its original gilt-brass key with dolphins forming a lyre; the glazed doors are lined in pleated yellow silk. Of mahogany, curly maple, tulip poplar, white pine, cedar, and ebony.

The secretary carries two attributions: Carswell Rush Berlin, in an essay published in Antiques and Fine Arts (Spring 2007), proposed Henry Fligler (or Flagler), recorded as active in Philadelphia 1816–1825; Edward Pattillo attributed it to Anthony G. Quervelle, circa 1825–1835, noting its relationship to the work of Joseph Barry.