An exceptional Cotswold School walnut secretaire by Peter Waals (1870 - 1937)

Comprising a central drop-leaf writing surface enclosing a fitted interior, flanked by two open shelves, all above a series of drawers, each with faceted circular handles. Delineated by ebony and boxwood banding and surmounted by an arched superstructure.

England, circa 1920

Condition: In wonderful original condition. Two small dovetailed locating pieces which stabilise the superstructure to the main body replaced



Born in The Hague and nephew of a Nobel prize-winning physicist, Peter Waals trained as a cabinet maker in his native Netherlands, moving, after three years in Europe, to London, where he was introduced to the world famous cabinetmaker and designer, Ernest Gimson, in 1901.

Gimson offered Waals a job running his Cotswolds workshop, where Waals remained, as chief cabinetmaker. Soon after Gimson's death in 1919, Waals set up his own workshop nearby. The work produced in these workshops is still regarded as the supreme achievement of the Arts & Crafts movement and features highly in British and international collections.

Waals' furniture is now rare: a disastrous fire in his workshops in 1938 ended his widow's at- tempts to continue production.