Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Her Majesty’s Furniture: A Secretaire Cabinet, 1774

Secretaire
John Bradburn, 1774
The Royal Collection
This beautiful secretaire made of mahogany, mirrored glass and gilt bronze was made in 1774 for Charlotte, the Princess Royal, by John Bradburn, a student of William Vile who was the cabinet-maker of the Great Wardrobe in 1764.


This piece of furniture was created for purely practical reasons and isn’t quite as showy as other pieces which grace the palatial rooms of the Royal residences. It’s important to note that the Princess Royal was only eight at the time this cabinet was made. It was a piece that she was meant to grow into, and she did. This sturdy secretaire followed her throughout her life.

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