Classical brass inlaid rosewood work table Boston, 1820-1830 rectangular drop-leaf top centering alabaster tablet, leaves inscribed respectively "El General Guilarte" and "Ala Snta:Julia Wadinton"; on conforming case with two drawers, one with sliding velvet surface concealing compartmented interior, with two sham drawers and pullout work bag within shaped supports, flanked by alabaster columns unifying abacus base on dolphin-carved feet, inlaid overall with scrolling brass-inlaid panels foliate reserves; together with an oil on tin portrait of General Guilarte in brass-inlaid rosewood frame. (Alabaster chipped, otherwise good condition) table H28" D17 3/4" W37 3/4" open; portrait framed size: H17 7/8" W14 1/8" *Note: Offered at Christie's New York Important American Sale 12 October 2001, in Rockefeller Center, a short time after 9/11. *Provenance: Possibly commissioned as a special order by or for General Guilarte as a gift to Julia Wadington, this Boston work table may have traveled on a venture cargo trade ship from Boston to South America. With white pine secondary woods and exhibiting characteristics associated with Boston examples, this work table was created as a form used primarily by ladies. Usually made with two narrow drawers, the top was compartmented to hold various sewing implements while the lower drawer is a fabric work bag attached to a drawer frame. Translation in English of the information attached to the back of the painting of General Guilarte is as follows: "General Eusebio Guilarte He was born in 1799 and died in 1849. Upon General Ballivian's renouncement of the Presidency, Guilarte remained at the front of executive power. The revolution was coming like a torrent, Guilarte executes the Official Borda; but as soon as he arrived at Oruro, the revolution explodes and Guilarte flees to Peru on the 2nd of January, 1848." General Guilarte became president December 23, 1847 and was overthrown 10 days later.