Of sarcophagus form with a hinged top, carved foliate egg and dart edge and an ebony inlaid Greek key border. The canted reeded angles headed by carved lion masks. The body with ebony stringing and double cockbeaded decoration, on bold paw feet and castors. The lead-lined interior with ten divisions for bottles. The front with a key escutcheon, with key.

Thomas Hope (1769-1831) was a connoisseur of the arts and a designer of furniture and interiors which defined the Regency period. He was heavily influenced by classical civilisation and designs, inspired by a ten-year Grand Tour through Europe, Asia and Africa. He is best known for his interior decoration at his residence in Duchess Street, London where he displayed the collection amassed on his Grand Tour and the furnishings he designed and commissioned. Keen to influence others, in 1807 Hope published Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, which included sketches of his furniture and achieved his aim of changing the way people furnished their homes, with bold forms.