A REGENCY EBONY-INLAID MAHOGANY BONHEUR-DU-JOUR

ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS

Details

A REGENCY EBONY-INLAID MAHOGANY BONHEUR-DU-JOUR
Attributed to Gillows
The three-quarter galleried rectangular superstructure with lyre supports above a further shelf with reeded ring-turned columns, the eared moulded rectangular top above a secretaire-drawer flanked by fluted angles and enclosing a blue velvet-covered writing-surface, pigeon-holes and three cedar-lined satinwood drawers, above a hinged fallfront with two further shelves flanked by reeded ring-turned columnar angles, on gadrooned turned tapering legs with reeded feet, the locks stamped GR PATENT beneath a crown, inscribed in chalk to the reverse SWIFT and with printed label STORED WITH MARK ROWE &... EXETER 45
24in. (61cm.) wide; 53¾in. (136.5cm.) high; 15¾in. (40cm.) deep

Provenance

Almost certainly acquired by John, 6th Marquess of Bute (1933-1993).

Lot Essay

This Lady's secretaire-cabinet with lyre-supported 'chiffonier' shelves is veneered with richly figured panels framed by ribbon-mouldings with 'hollowed' and 'tablet' corners, while its flanking columnettes enriched with flutes and reeds are designed in the French/Grecian manner illustrated in Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary of 1802. Its form evolved from a 'secretary cabinet' designed in 1794 and illustrated pl.64.

With its distinctive 'Etruscan' line inlay and engaged three-quarter columns, this bonheur-du-jour relates to the oeuvre of Messrs. Gillow of Oxford Street and Lancaster. Interestingly, these elements are shared with the following lot (lot 39).

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