Maitland-Smith Leather Stacked Books Coffee Table with Drawers

Trompe l'oeil coffee table by Maitland-Smith formed as three monumental stacked antiquarian volumes, wrapped in full-grain leather over a wood substrate. The bottom tier is tooled "Dante / Poesie" in terracotta with heavy gilt borders and foliate cornerpieces; the middle tier reads "Verdi / Otello" in tan cognac leather with raised spine banding; the top tier "Mozart / Vol. V" presents in dark olive-brown with gilt-tooled fleurons and scrolled medallions. The Italian operatic and literary references reinforce the European decorative pedigree the form draws from.

Three concealed slide-out drawers integrate into the spine elevations — two shallower drawers within the upper volumes and a deeper drawer at the base — each lined in cream and black fleur-de-lis patterned fabric. The stack rests on four ebonized turned bun feet. Late 20th century production, consistent with Maitland-Smith's Italian-influenced decorative line.

CONDITION

Good overall and structurally sturdy. Scratches and several areas of wear to the leather throughout, including scuffing and gilt loss along the painted side panels, a small lifted leather tear at the middle-tier spine edge, and abrasion to one drawer pull recess. Drawers operate and fabric linings present cleanly.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 16.5" H × 39.5" L × 26" W
• Two upper drawers: 2.25" interior depth
• Lower drawer: 3.25" interior depth
• Turned bun feet: 3" H, ebonized
• Construction: wood substrate wrapped in full-grain leather, gilt-tooled
• Drawer linings: fleur-de-lis patterned fabric
• Maker: Maitland-Smith
• Period: late 20th century
• Campbell's Soup Can (4" H) Shown for Scale