Wooton Desk Co. (American, 1870-1893), likely 1874-1876. Rare well carved renaissance revival custom Superior Grade ebonized and holly or satinwood accented cabinet secretary, having a flame urn above a plinth decorated with a roundel depicting the coat of arms of Uruguay and flanked by griffins and urns, the cornice supported by caryatids flaking two lower compartments with foliate carvings revealing an interior fitted with compartments and a drawer, the double half-domed doors with guilloche bands, scrolled florals and griffins above a three-shelf bookcase supported by Ionic columns, the interior with architecturally fitted center compartment with fall front writing surface, above a single drawer and double doors, each double door with six open compartments, single slide and drawer, above a three-shelf bookcase. Apparently unmarked. Note: This desk has a history as being owned by the President of Uruguay though due to the quality of the carvings, it could have been created as an exhibition piece. It is purportedly one of only two ebony or fully ebonized desks. A 1999 certificate of appraisal from Richard and Eileen Dubrow Antiques and Books for $75,000, as well as three books on the Wooton Desk Co. will accompany this lot. Provenance: Acquired from Red Baron's Antiques, Atlanta, GA.

Approx. h. 70.5", w. 36.5" (closed), d. 31.25"

Structurally sound. Repairs to wings on both griffins. Small chip to breast plate on one griffin. Top flame finial is loose. Repair to cornice on molding with small loss. 1.5" crack to curved molding. Minor surface scratches, specifically from opening and closing drawers. Fading to one side. Inside with some alligatoring to finish and some wear to leather writing surface. Four pieces of drawer molding missing to inside compartments. Bottom doors with small signs of use and small abrasion near lock.