England, circa 1790

A fine late eighteenth century Sheraton-style satinwood and rosewood display cabinet on stand. The upper section with a shaped, pagoda-inspired outline to the cornice, crowned with two finials, all opening with three glazed doors to the front, the doors cross-banded in satinwood, with fine brass escutcheons.

Below the glazed doors, the middle section fitted with three further doors veneered in richly figured rosewood, cross-banded in satinwood, the central door centred by an oval satinwood medallion, a favoured Sheraton decorative device.

The stand below incorporates a pull-out writing slide, lined in gilt tooled green leather. The frieze drawer fitted with brass leopard-mask ring handles above a shaped and cross-banded apron, centred by an inlaid oval fan motif. The whole is raised on elegant square-tapered legs with satinwood inlay to the edges.

Height 176.00cm

Width 82.00cm

Depth 51.00cm

The name Norman Adams has become synonymous with the finest quality English furniture and remains one of the great names of the Antiques Trade. The son of Bristolian schoolmaster and antiques dealer Walter Adams, Norman began dealing himself in 1923 and shortly moved to the States where he opened a shop in Boston. His famous showroom at 8-10 Hans Road, Knightsbridge opened later in 1928, only closing its doors finally in 2009. His passion was for English furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, favouring designs by Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite with many of their finest pieces passing through his hands. He placed particular importance on the patina of a piece, looking especially for that elusive quality which only time and circumstances provide to enrich surfaces and leave them with a unique added depth. In 1983 the Antique Collectors Club published ‘The Norman Adams Collection’, cataloguing some of his finest pieces; a source which is still used today for examples of the best period furniture.