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Lot Essay
This table was formerly in the collection of the 5th Baron Brownlow at Belton House, Lincolnshire, and may originally have been ordered by the 2nd Baron upon the refurbishment of Belton House (1809-25), by architect to George IV, Sir Jeffry Wyattville.
The present 'Grecian' writing-table relates to a group of almost identical tables, which have been associated with the Regency cabinet-maker, John McLean & Son. Several features also appear on many of the McLean pieces such as the use of richly grained veneers highlighted by brass mounts on a restrained neoclassical form. The distinctive star-form mount drawer pull also appears on a sofa table in rosewood by McLean, which is illustrated in S. Redburn, John McLean and Son, Furniture History, 1978, Vol. XIV, pl. 41B.
A writing-table of this model was sold anonymously in Christie's London, 12 March 1970, lot 24, another sold Christie's London, 13 April 1989, lot 139 and a third is illustrated in F. Lewis Hinckley, Hepplewhite, Sheraton & Regency Furniture, 1987, p. 95, pl. 181. Other examples of this model are known, including one, from the Moller Collection at Thorncombe Park, Surrey, sold Sotheby's London, 18 November 1993, lot 127, another from the collection of the late the Hon. Mrs Pretyman, Orwell Park, Suffolk, sold Sotheby's London, 7 July 1995, lot 138, another sold anonymously, Christie's London, 11 November 1999, lot 60 (£54,300, including premium) and further example sold anonymously, Christie's London, 5 April 2001, lot 70 (£42,300, including premium).
The present 'Grecian' writing-table relates to a group of almost identical tables, which have been associated with the Regency cabinet-maker, John McLean & Son. Several features also appear on many of the McLean pieces such as the use of richly grained veneers highlighted by brass mounts on a restrained neoclassical form. The distinctive star-form mount drawer pull also appears on a sofa table in rosewood by McLean, which is illustrated in S. Redburn, John McLean and Son, Furniture History, 1978, Vol. XIV, pl. 41B.
A writing-table of this model was sold anonymously in Christie's London, 12 March 1970, lot 24, another sold Christie's London, 13 April 1989, lot 139 and a third is illustrated in F. Lewis Hinckley, Hepplewhite, Sheraton & Regency Furniture, 1987, p. 95, pl. 181. Other examples of this model are known, including one, from the Moller Collection at Thorncombe Park, Surrey, sold Sotheby's London, 18 November 1993, lot 127, another from the collection of the late the Hon. Mrs Pretyman, Orwell Park, Suffolk, sold Sotheby's London, 7 July 1995, lot 138, another sold anonymously, Christie's London, 11 November 1999, lot 60 (£54,300, including premium) and further example sold anonymously, Christie's London, 5 April 2001, lot 70 (£42,300, including premium).