American Eastlake Carved Burl Walnut Bureau Bookcase

Lot description

American Eastlake carved walnut secretary bookcase, late 19th/ early 20th c., having pierced crest with half floral rosettes, molded cornice, over two glazed cabinet doors, slant-front desk, fitted interior gallery and writing surface, one drawer, above two additional doors, burled walnut panels, ending on castors, approx 98.25"h, 45.5"w, 20 1/8"d Provenance: From the estate of Connie Todd (Constance Clare Todd, Austin, Texas, 1941-2024). For many years, Connie Todd was the personal assistant to prominent Austin-based book publisher, photographer, and author Bill Wittliff (William Dale Wittliff, American, active in Austin, Texas, 1940-2019). Bill Wittliff wrote celebrated screenplays such as "Lonesome Dove" (1982), "Legends of the Fall" (1994), and "Barbarosa" (2000), and founded the regionally-oriented publishing company, Encino Press, with his wife Sally in 1963. Connie Todd later served as the founding director of the Wittliff Collections at Texas State University from 1997-2010, transforming it into an internationally-acclaimed collection through noteworthy acquisitions such as the Cormac McCarthy archive. After retiring from Texas State, Connie Todd spent time traveling the world with friends and family.