Royal Secretaire Bookcase

Warings&Gillows circa 1911

THE ROYAL YACHT ,HMS MEDINA ON H.R.H KING GEORGE 1V & QUEEN MARY’S CORONATION TRIP.

TO INDIA THE DURBAR circa 1911-1912

QUEEN MARY’S PERSONAL SECRETAIRE BOOKCASE - THE ROYAL YACHT : HMS MEDINA : 1911-1912 CORONATION EXPEDITION TO INDIA, ' THE DURBAR’. [ONE OF A PAIR]

DESIGNED & MADE FOR HER MAJESTY BY WARINGS & GILLOWS

A BRIEF HISTORY & RESTORATION OF A HIDDEN GEM

By Huw Edwards-jones Master cabinet maker. Liveryman of the Worshipful company of Furniture makers Freeman of the City of London

Purchased in poor condition by myself covered in a 100 year old Green paint effect finish, giving no clue as to what may have laid beneath. Thinking it to be in its original finish I managed by chance to acquire an original copy of an article written in the prestigious ‘Connoisseur’ magazine dated November 1911.

This comprehensive article describes the kitting out of the Royal Yacht, HMS Medina, by the famous cabinet making company Warings & Gillows who had been personally commissioned
by Her Majesty, Queen Mary, to specially design & make all the furniture for her & King George IV’s quarters, which were on the starboard and port sides of the Yacht.

The Editor of the Connoisseur magazine was invited onboard HMS Medina once all the works had been completed, and a thorough description with pictures was compiled, describing all the furnishings in Queen Mary’s quarters which were of light Green silks & covers with white walls and bulkheads and Beautiful Honey coloured Satinwood furniture, to give a feelingof coolness when in hotter climates.

On further research at the Royal Greenwich observatory research library an original black & white photograph was discovered showing this magnificent piece on the left hand side of Queen Mary's bed with a matching one on the other side. I have now painstakingly taken the secretaire apart which also revealed hidden sections which were still in their original lush Satinwood. I then hand stripped all the green paint from the Secretaire bookcase.I then went about sympathetically restoring and repairing this piece using classical restoration methods and glues.

Brazilian Mahogany
There was also a small amount of Kingwood cross banding inlays that were replaced.

What has emerged from a dull pale green paint effect is a magnificent Secretaire bookcase in the finest Satinwood and Kingwood cross banded veneers. This Masterpiece is of the very highest quality with attention to every every aspect of its design and construction.

On return of HMS Medina in June 1912, all the Royal furniture was taken off the yacht for an exhibition of the Royal Quarters of the King and Queens apartments aboard HMS Medina. It was advertised in the then fledgling magazine ‘Homes & Gardens’. The exhibition opened at the Warings & Gillows shop on Bond Street, London. The furniture was then sent to auction and this piece was most likely painted after WW1 by its new owner.

WW1 of course created a catalyst for complete change. All things after this terrible war were changed, paint finishes started to come into fashion and Edwardian furniture would have been out. The original leather has been left on the secretaire for historic prosperity, as it shows ink spills most likely from rough weather when Queen Mary would have been writing letters & diary inclusions.

When the Secretaire flap is closed there is a slight scorch mark made from a cigarette, left burning a little to long, this was not there before the green paint was removed, so knowing Queen Mary was a smoker,
she must have left a cigarette there maybe while in bed. I have left this for Historical interest.

The piece has been skilfully hand French polished by myself as it would have been when made.

It also has extremely rare solid Silver cast handles and locks, fit for a Queen.

On the inside of the Drawer is a Bronze engraved plate stating, ‘HMS MEDINA’ used for the state visit to India, TM the King & Queen 1911-12, Warings, London.

Warings & Gillows would have used their very best cabinet makers for this Royal commission and on seeing it in its now restored condition it is plain to see that only the finest ripple, highly figured Satinwood veneers would have been tracked down to build it.

A truly magnificent & important Royal Masterpiece with 100% provenance, with editorial and photographic evidence. Beautifully proportioned & dainty. Small & usable.

• Dimensions: 6 feet tall, 15 inches x 16 inches

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