Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond
George Jack Secretary
This fall front secretary was designed by George Jack. Made in 1893-96, it is the tradition of William Morris, who was a huge influence on the English Arts and Crafts movement.
The piece is mahogany with a stylized marquetry of oak leaves. Parts of the marquetry have a look of stained glass with fine borders surrounding the leaves and stems. Notice that the grain direction in the leaves changes to mimic veins. I particularly like the acorns with the little zig-zag caps. There is also a checkerboard banding running around the panels. And finally, at the top there is a border of leaves in a boulle-style pattern of light and dark.