This Chippendale secretary was said to have been damaged during the Civil War. The drawers were gone, replaced by doors, and the sides had been cut back. The ogee feet were lost as well as the scroll top of the bookcase, the traces of which were clearly evident upon removing the new top board.

I used old salvaged mahogany boards to extend the case sides and recreated the missing rails, drawers and feet. I also replaced the desk lid which was a later poorly executed addition.

I followed what was left of the scrollboard cutouts in designing the lost upper elements of the bookcase top. The recreated scrolls, rosettes and flame finials are appropriate to the period.

The new work was blended in and the secretary was given a rubbed shellac finish.