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Description: http://hygra.com/uk/n11/630JB

Ref:  630JB: A monumental  coromandel ebony compendium table cabinet  of architectural form having turned and carved feet and handles. It is profusely inlaid to the top and front with mother of pearl.
The compendium is the personal space for the owner and has a fully fitted sewing tray complete with its original filigree silver and bone thread spools and other tools, There are two drawers for jewelry, and a folding writing box.
Origin: UK ;  Circa: 1850; Materials: Coromandel on mahogany, mother of pearl, silk, leather .
Size: 38.5 cm wide by 29.5 cm by 41 cm:   15.2 inches  wide by  11.6  inches by 16.1  inches.

Condition: good overall; working lock and key;  There is veneer cracking to the coromandel veneers., however the cabinet is structurally sound; see images

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The top contains a document wallet with a rushed silk front. 

Behind this there is a silk lined compartment with a mirror in the middle.

The doors open to reveal 3 drawers. The top is blind and is the front of the fitted sewing tray. The middle two are for nickknacks and jewelry.

The bottom drawer is a writing box.

Inside the doors the fielded panels are covered in  gold tooled  Moroccan leather. 

The top lifts to reveal a fully fitted sewing tray. it has six thread spools with filigree silver tops,  matching waxer and needle cleaner and a silk  tape measure.

There are two silver thimbles. the one on the left has the  Birmingham hallmark for 1851. 

 There is a mirror in the compartment behind the document wallet in the lid

Detail of one of the  filigree silver spool tops.

  The underside of the spools is bone. It is easily identified from its distinctive markings 

 The mother of pearl inlay contrasts with the rich dark of the dark coromandel. Although the motif has total control of technique it has the fluidity of the natural flowers it depicts. It is a time consuming job inlaying such elements to this fineness.
The inlay is stylized and symmetrical according to the neoclassical tradition and the grace of naturalism

The structure of the doors is particularly complex .  Central fielded  inlaid panels are  framed by turned gadrooning. 

Inside the doors the fielded panels are covered in gold tooled Moroccan leather.

There is veneer cracking to the coromandel veneers., however the cabinet is structurally sound.

The mother of pearl inlay contrasts with the rich dark of the coromandel. Although the motif has total control of technique it has the fluidity of the natural flowers it depicts. It is a time consuming job inlaying such elements to this fineness.
The inlay is stylized and symmetrical according to the neoclassical tradition and the grace of naturalism

 Detail of the turned and carved feet.

 Detail of the turned and carved drop ring handles. The chip carving on the ring handle is most unusual.

 One of the thimbles  is hallmarked  Birmingham 1851.

This cabinet is much bigger than usual. Here it is pictured with  an earlier cabinet with rosewood. There are similarities such as the feet and fielded door panels which make me believe that both  are from the same workshop.

There are further details of the rosewood cabinet at: Hygra: Antique rosewood Table cabinet