Patinations

Riley Cabinet

Australian Hardwood Colonial Secretaire on Chest, with Painted Panels by Joseph Lycett, circa 1817-19.

This important piece of early Australian Colonial furniture is the subject of much investigation and research. It is possibly the earliest Australian native timber specimen cabinet to survive.

The Secretaire displays at least 14 Australian timbers in its construction and also secretaire drawers. An in-depth report is attached as a PDF outlining the new and minimally invasive wood anatomy methods that were developed to help identify the timbers making up this piece.

Another important part of this cabinet is the three paintings by the Colonial artist, Joseph Lycett. Together with the painted panels, brass hardware and similarities in construction, this chest is without doubt closely related to the Macquarie and Dixon chests, housed in the Mitchell Library of NSW.
Pdf: exoticaguide-lycett-Eliz-Ellis.pdf

In the 1950’s the French bracket feet were added to the secretaire. During conservation these were removed and, using forensic analysis in conjunction with much research, turned legs were reproduced to be as close as possible to the original legs. The least amount of structural work was completed to avoid damage in the future. The strictest conservation ethic was employed in the process, and the finish was left as found even though this was not original.