Fine Federal or Neoclassical Southern desk and bookcase or butlers secretary, walnut with yellow pine secondary wood, three-piece construction. Ogee cornice with inlay decoration simulating dentil moldings, string inlay with central design in the tympanum above solid doors with inlay and veneered panels simulating raised paneling. Lower desk features a secretary drawer with fitted interior, decorated mahogany veneers and string inlay, above three long graduated dovetailed drawers, all with cockbeading, fine string inlay, and later round brass pulls. The piece terminates with small line of inlay above a shaped skirt and four French feet. Note: one interior drawer possibly signed by maker but the name is very faint. 94 1/2" H x 41 1/8" W x 20 7/8" D. Possibly Georgia or North Carolina, circa 1790-1810. Provenance: Private Nashville, Tennessee collection, purchased many years ago from the estate of Frank Wheeler of Mount Pleasant, Tennessee.

Refinished, some repair to dental inlay, bookcase doors reset, some chips to cockbeading on drawer, later brass pulls in original holes, missing some string inlay on skirt, and a chip to right front foot facing.