Lot Essay
The 2nd Marquess of Londonderry was an eminent statesman who, as Lord Castlereagh, was Foreign Secretary from 1814-22 and one of the leading negotiators of the Congress of Vienna Settlement at the end of the Napoleonic wars. He was Chief Secretary for Ireland 1798-1801 and the labels would presumably refer to this period of his life
The two types of inlay with delicate swags barely touching their roundel supports and scrolling leaf are both characteristic of the work of the Dublin inlayer and cabinet-maker, William Moore (fl.1782-1815). All attributions to Moore stem to a greater or lesser extent from a commode he supplied to the Duke of Portland when he was Viceroy of Ireland in 1782. The inlaid shamrock scroll in the upper section of this cabinet is a simplification of Moores's standard berried scroll such as appears on a pair of tables sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 5 July 1991, lot 134. The simple draped roundel appears on a table sold in the same sale, lot 195. Both tables have other inlay elements that relate closely to the Portland commode.
The two types of inlay with delicate swags barely touching their roundel supports and scrolling leaf are both characteristic of the work of the Dublin inlayer and cabinet-maker, William Moore (fl.1782-1815). All attributions to Moore stem to a greater or lesser extent from a commode he supplied to the Duke of Portland when he was Viceroy of Ireland in 1782. The inlaid shamrock scroll in the upper section of this cabinet is a simplification of Moores's standard berried scroll such as appears on a pair of tables sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 5 July 1991, lot 134. The simple draped roundel appears on a table sold in the same sale, lot 195. Both tables have other inlay elements that relate closely to the Portland commode.