Secretary Bookcase, with M.E.S.D.A. Label 

American (possibly Maryland or Kentucky) 1790 - 1800. A two-piece Southern secretary bookcase in cherry and cherry veneers, with poplar secondary, having dark and lightwood barber pole and chevron line inlays, the upper section with a molded cornice over two doors, each outlined in barber pole inlay set in mitred cherry veneer, the doors opening to adjustable interior shelves. The lower section having a top drawer with fall front, a fitted interior of drawers and valanced pigeon holes, and a central opening with a large eagle and shield inlay. The top drawer face with two paterae over two doors with veneer paterae, opening to interior linen drawers (two are missing), all rising on flared bracket feet; ht. 90, wd. 40.5, dp. 20.75 in. 
Note: The piece has a M.E.S.D.A. label from 1975 when it was surveyed as part of sweeping documentation of Southern Furniture conducted by the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (M.E.S.D.A.) with grant funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, DC. The survey recorded hundreds of pieces of furniture having Southern Tidewater, Low Country and Back Country specific regional characteristics. This piece was documented by M.E.S.D.A., #S-4392, on April 29, 1975, and found in Kentucky.

Age cracks throughout., poor repairs of inlay, missing crossbanding, missing two interior drawers from lower section, center interior section altered.