HERTER BROS. EBONIZED CHERRY LADY'S FALL-FRONT WRITING DESK,signed Herter Bros., New York, c. 1870-1880. Back branded with maker's name "HerterBros". Fall-front inlaid with grapevines, stylized chrysanthemums and butterfly, in light satinwood or maple; interior back of open compartment enhanced with light green patterned velvet; piston feet. - 56 3/4 in. x 31 1/2 in. x 14 1/2 in. Estimate $40,000-60,000
Provenance: A Washington, DC Collector. Illustrated, Figure XII-I, p. 248, Oscar Fitzgerald, "Three Centuries of American Furniture".
Condition good, with original fabric panel insert; scattered light surface markings from use to ebonized finish; interior lid writing surface, with ink stained original fabric panel; maple fitted interior with light age crack to floor of left front corner and ink stains; inlaid exterior panel shows some minor shrinkage in the form of vertical hair-line age cracks; reeded edge bottom of case shows a small raised splinter-like flaw near center.
