An American Federal Inlaid Mahogany and Eglomise Breakfront Bookcase,c. 1900, Boston, with brass eagle and spire finials, the shaped cornice with flame birch panels, projecting center section having doors with oval mirrors and eglomise panes depicting floral urns, twodrawers below each side having doors with eglomise panes depicting Classical maidens in the garden and inlaid crossed mullions over a short drawer and cabinet, the drawers with period brasses stamped "W.J.", rosewood crossbanding and elm inlaid stiles, on turned tapering and reeded legs, bearing two labels which read "T.G. BUCKLEY CO./690 DUDLEY ST., BOSTON MASS./INVENTORY/LOT NO. 13385/PIECE NO. 63", height91 in., width 67 in., depth 18.5in. E15000/20000 Note: This piece constructed of old and period parts, was almost certainly made to complement period pieces in the inventory of T.G. Buckley Co. and was not intended to deceive. It is very closely modeled on a Salem, Massachusetts, area breakfront secretary now in the collection of the H.F. Dupont Winterthur Museum and illustrated as a "Masterpiece" in Albert Sack, The New Fine Points of Furniture, (New York, Crown Publishers, 1993). Of particular interest are the rare period brasses,stamped "W.J." by William Jenkins of Birmingham, England, c. 1805-1820 In Metalwork in Early America Donald Fennimore states that Jenkins "seems to have specialized in cabinet hardware...his interest...is underscored in English patent records that document his being granted patent number 3450 for ... "flat backed handles and rings"... 3483 for.." drawer and other knobs"...and 3698 for..."socket casters" all "used with or affixed to cabinet and other furniture and things." ( Winterthur, Del: The Henry Francis Dupont Winterthur Museum, 1996).