A MAHOGANY BOOKCASE'PEPYSIAN' TYPE, SECOND QUARTER 18TH CENTURY233cm high, 130cm wide, 45cm deepAn unusual feature of this bookcase is that the profile of the glazing bars of the upper section has also been used to bisect the panels of the lower section.The profile of the thick glazing bars also suggests dating the bookcase to the second quarter of the 18th century. The same profile of glazing bars is present to the windows of several Spitalfields houses of the period. In addition the use of mahogany is evident in the construction of the documented staircase at 4-6 Fournier Street, Spitalfields. Mahogany was also known to have been used at Houghton Hall and various churches at this early period.For further discussion and evidence of the early mahogany trade and use of the timber, See Adam Bowett, The English mahogany trade 1700-1793, thesis, 1996. This bookcase is similar in form to the 'Pepys Bookcase' first made by the Master Joiner Thomas Simpson (alias Sympson the Joiner) for the naval administrator and diarist Samuel Pepys to house his vast collection of books at his residence at Seething Lane, London. It is possible that Pepys himself had a hand in the design of the original bookcase.For a related example of bookcase, see Adam Bowet, Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740, Antiques Collectors Club, 2009, page 133, plate 3:75. Condition Report Marks, knocks, scratches and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Old splits and chips. Various losses to the putty securing the glazed panels. Locks and catches appear original. Key present and operates both locks. Escutcheons are period replacement. Some small filled holes are visible from previous escutcheons. Two escutcheons are lacking some of their securing pins but remain firmly in position. Hinges are old replacements. Small fillets of timber have been applied adjacent to them to fill the gap from the previously larger hinges. The screws securing the hinges have been 'overdriven' in places resulting in the tips of the screws poking out of the sides of the bookcase. Some small filled holes are also visible to the front of the doors adjacent to the hinges. Some old vertical splits and cracks to backboards. Evidence of old worm. Later securing blocks to backs or feet are detached, three are present. One rear foot with detached rear facet.Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition.