A George III black-lacquer-mounted breakfront side cabinet attributed to Thomas Chippendale, circa 1770

Étiquettes

black-lacquer-mounted breakfront side cabinet, Chinese lacquer, circa 1770, George III, Thomas Chippendale

A George III black-lacquer-mounted breakfront side cabinet attributed to Thomas Chippendale, circa 1770. Estimate 40,000 — 60,000 USD. Photo Sotheby’s.

The breakfronted top above a conforming case fitted with three frieze drawers above a guilloche-carved edge and three cupboard doors opening to drawers, raised on tapering square legs ending in block feet; mounted all over with Chinese lacquer veneers. height 37 1/2 in.; width 45 3/4 in.; depth 19 3/4 in., 95.3 cm; 116.2 cm; 50.2 cm

PROVENANCE: Edwin Lascelles, Harewood House
Thence by decent, the Earl of Harewood, Harewood House
purchased from the above in 1951 by John Tillotson, Esq.
Partridge (Fine Arts) Ltd., London
PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF ANDREW GORDON

Notes: The present commode was bought from the Earl of Harewood of Harewood House in 1951 and fits into the known group of lacquer-mounted commodes which Thomas Chippendale supplied to Edwin Lascelles in the early 1770s.  The Harewood commodes were sold in the Christie’s sale of 28 June, 1951, lots 74, 75 and 76.  These three commodes were sold subsequently at Christie’s 22 November 1973, lots 56, 57 and 58. (C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, New York, 1978, vol. I, p. 197 and vol. II, pp. 122-123, figs. 215, 217, 218) The present commode is similarly mounted in Chinese black lacquer coupled with japanning.  The construction of the piece is very fine and the handles to the interior drawers are identical to small handles used by Chippendale in many of his documented pieces.  It is therefore reasonable to assume that this may be the third commode referred to as being in Lord Harewood’s Bedchamber and the Couch Room, both on the principal floor, in the 1795 inventory at Harewood and was probably made by Chippendale’s workshop. (E. Lennox-Boyd,Masterpieces of English Furniture: The Gerstenfeld Collection, London, 1998, p. 87)

Chippendale’s commission at Harewood House was the most valuable and probably most extensive of his career. The first documented record of Chippendale’s involvement at Harewood is in a letter dated 19 July 1767 from the cabinet-maker to another of his patrons, Sir Rowland Winn of Nostell Priory, in which he wrote ‘As soon as I had got to Mr Lascelles and look’d over the whole of ye house I found that [I] Shou’d want a Many designs & knowing that I had time Enough I went to York to do them’.

Edwin Lascelles had commissioned John Carr of York to design him a new house shortly after receiving the huge inheritance upon his father’s death. Early plans by Sir William Chambers were rejected and Carr’s plans were shown to the young Robert Adam in 1758, who had freshly returned from three years of study in Italy, with a view to the interiors. Adam did little to alter Carr’s plan, who had already been involved at Harewood on the stables, farm, house and model village. The foundation stone of the new house was laid in 1759, Adam’s decorative schemes date to 1765 and Chippendale’s visit in 1767 would have been about four years before the house was inhabitable. What ensued was a commission of considerable scale. Whilst the early invoices for furniture have never been discovered, a reference contained within the major surviving invoice refers to earlier work, prior to 1772, amounting to £3,024, 19.s 3d. The major invoice that relates to work to June 1777 was nearly £7,000 and as Christopher Gilbert notes in his seminal work on Chippendale it is likely that the full commission exceeded £10,000, a vast sum at that time. The commission continued past the retirement of Chippendale Snr. in 1776, overseen by his son until 1797. To give an indication of the importance and significance of this commission, the sheer cost magnificently out-weighed that of many of Chippendale’s other highly regarded clients. For example, Sir Lawrence Dundas’ bill amounted to £1,300 for the work between 1763-66 which included the ornate chairs made to Robert Adam’s design and supplied for Arlington Street, London, and Sir Rowland Winn’s patronage at Nostell amounted to around £2,000 for the work undertaken up to 1771.

Sotheby’s. Important English and European Decorative Arts, New York | 22 oct. 2014, 10:00 AM

Ronald Phillips reveals highlights to be presented at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show

Étiquettes

Chinese export, Chinese lacquer, circa 1750, circa 1765, circa 1775, desk armchair, English, Gainsborough armchair, George II, George III, Gillows of Lancaster, giltwood mirror, Glemhall Hall, mahogany, Matthias Lock, Ormolu mounted, Qianlong, Robert Adam, St. Giles House, Thomas Chippendale, three-light candelabra, wine cooler

A George III Ormolu mounted white painted oval wine cooler. English, circa 1775, Price: £100,000+. 

LONDON.- Ronald Phillips Ltd, one of the world’s leading antique galleries handling some of the most important pieces of English Antique Furniture and Works of Art has released some of the finest examples of craftsmanship and design that will be displayed on the company’s stand at the International Fine Art and Antique Dealers Show. 

Prices will range between £38,500 and over £2,000,000, many of which have notable provenance, with some offered for public sale for the first time. The collection for the exhibition promises to be a magical history of narcissism and decoration- and a celebration of England craftsmanship which are a testament to Simon Phillips’ exceptional eye and expertise. Simon’s interest in and knowledge of English decorative arts is wide-ranging enabling him to successfully source the very finest furniture and works of art, which are invariably united by his unerring and intuitive sense of what makes them special. The booth of over 40 lots presents a wealth of opportunities for international collectors and interior designers and the rich and varied array of items will suit many tastes; tailored to meet the sustained and growing interests of collectors intent on acquiring works of the highest calibre. 

Highlights of the exhibition include a pair of George III three light ormolu candelabra designed by the Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer Robert Adam, English circa 1775; the drawing by Robert Adam for the design of the candelabra is now preserved in the Sir John Soane Museum in London.

A pair of George III three light ormolu candelabra designed by Robert Adam. English, circa 1775, Price: £100,000+.

Ronald Phillips has long championed mirrors, whilst pairs of mirrors are the ultimate finds. This exhibition boasts several pairs of mirrors including a pair of George II giltwood mirrors, English circa 1750. Retaining most of their original gilding with a distinctive Rococo design following a drawing published by Matthias Lock in his book ‘Six Sconces.’ Having recently come out of a private collection in Florida, the mirrors once belonged to Walter P. Chrysler in New York. Mr. Chrysler, whose father, Walter Sr., founded the Chrysler Corporation, devoted much of his life to building a multimillion-dollar collection of art works that was housed at the Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences in Norfolk, which was later renamed the Chrysler Museum. 

The Walter P. Chrysler Jr. mirrors. A pair of George II giltwood mirrors, English circa 1750, attributed to Matthias Lock, Price: £100,000+.

Ronald Phillips also hold a number of the finest Chinese reverse painted glasses, painted in China and sent to England to be sold. The earliest was from 1760 and in New York there will be a stunning pair from 1765. This pair of mirrors formed part of the collection assembled by H.J. (Jim) Joel. Like many other collectors of the middle years of the 20th century, Joel was advised by R.W. Symonds, the collection bearing his distinctive imprint. Unlike some of his contemporaries, Jim Joel’s collection encompassed a wide variety of genres that was sold in a monumental two-part Christie’s house sale, at Childwick Bury, St. Albans on 15-17 May 1978.

A  George III period Chinese export  mirror painting in original lacquer frame, Chinese, Qianlong, circa 1770. Price range: £10,000-£50,000.

Other highlights include, a George II walnut card table, English circa 1735, with concertina action, its notable provenance includes Percival D Griffiths who purchased the table in 1908. Under the wise counsel of R. W. Symonds, Percival D. Griffiths, amassed arguably the greatest collection of English Furniture formed in the 20th century, a collection which is unlikely to bettered any time soon. The table reached over $700,000 at Sotheby’s in 2004, after leaving another significant collection of Theodore and Ruth Baum. 

The most expensive pieces documented are a stunning pair of Chinese lacquer commodes commissioned for the Earl of Shaftesbury of St Giles House Dorset, English circa 1765, estimated over £2,000,000; whilst some of the most exciting finds revealed are the seat furniture which includes a mid 18th century desk armchair, almost certainly made by Thomas Chippendale, priced at £235,000 and The Glemhall Hall Gainsborough armchairs, English circa 1755. Commissioned under Dudley North of Glemhall Hall, Suffolk, the chairs were originally part of a larger suite of which nine armchairs can be traced. Each chair depicts a different bird made by Lady Barbara, the wife of Dudley North. A pair of chairs is in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg. Two further chairs formerly in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection are now in a private collection in New York, a single is recorded in the Gerstenfeld collection in Washington, whilst another single chair was sold at auction in 1954 with current whereabouts unknown. Also on display will be a set of twelve George III mahogany armchairs by Gillows of Lancaster, English, circa 1795. Some of the original webbing, significantly stamped ‘Gillows Lancaster’ has been preserved with the chairs. 

The St. Giles House commodes, a pair of Chippendale period Chinese lacquer commodes, English, circa 1765. Price range: £100,000 +.

A George III mahogany desk armchair almost certainly by Thomas Chippendale, mid 18th century. Price range: £100,000 +.

The Glemhall Hall Gainsborough armchairs. Price range: £100,000 +.

A set of twelve George III mahogany armchairs by Gillows of Lancaster. Price range: £100,000 +.

Simon Phillips, who took over the Mayfair firm from his father Ronald over fifteen years ago says: “It has become increasingly difficult in recent years to find great pieces of English furniture, but within this exhibition there is a wonderful cross-section of important and rare English furniture and objects. United by the common themes of rarity, provenance, craftsmanship and beauty, I have invested in each of these items because they had the attributes I look for in fine English Antique Furniture, but the time has come for them to find new homes and enjoy the next chapter in their histories; whilst providing collectors with an opportunity to acquire the very best.”