18th century Venetian secretary,

in two sections, both elaborately polychromed with courting scenes, capriccios, floral sprays and birds on blue ground, upper case with elaborate pediment with floral and shell carved and gilt appliqués, arched mirror doors opening to painted and shelved interior, slant lid opening to orange-painted and gilt-decorated interior fitted with three drawers, three cubbyholes, dividers and till, till opening to lower compartment with two drawers, three long drawers with serpentine fronts on molded base with bracket feet, Italian, probably Venetian, 18th century, 91 x 43-1/2 x 22-1/2 in. Damages and restorations to paint overall, applied gilt cornice with repairs and later braces, secondary woods with scattered pest damage, interior possibly repainted, other repairs and flaws. Provenance: By tradition, purchased from the Morawitz family of Charleston, South Carolina, by Mrs. John Preston Frost, the grandmother of the consignor. Reserve: $10,000