ATTRIBUTED TO GEORGE BULLOCK, CIRCA 1815

The sideboard, with libation-paterae bas-reliefs, Greek-key fretted plinth, and French-fashioned buhl-inlay in bronze-black ebony, is designed in the Grecian style introduced by George Bullock (d.1818) at his Tenterden Street Workshops. Its temple-pedimented rail, with Greco-Roman acroteria, correspond to the head-board of Bullock's design, that was titled an English Bed in R. Ackermann's, Repository of Arts, London, 1816, pl. 91. and lauded for its tasteful simplicity. While there are few known executed Bullock sideboards, the design of this particular example appears to be an amalgamation of design features recorded on pp. 22-23 and 168b of the Wilkinson tracings. Other sideboards attributed to Bullock include one sold by David Style, Christie's, Wateringbury Place, Kent, June 1-2, 1978, lot 527 and another sold by the late Helena Hayward, illustrated in World Furniture, 1965, p. 206. The sideboard most closely related to this lot corresponds to design p. 22 in the Wilkinson tracings and was executed in pollard oak and holly for Matthew Robinson Boulton of Tew Park and sold by his descendant, the late Major Eustace Robb, Christie's, Tew Park, 27-29 May 1987, lot 56.

The marquetry patterns on the frieze, doors and the centre of the gallery are characteristic of Bullock's work and relate to several pieces and designs recorded in the Wilkinson tracings. The frieze corresponds to Wilkinson Tracing p.150. The decoration on the gallery is comparable to that of another sideboard recorded in the tracings (p. 23), while the rosette at the centre of the design is closely related to Wilkinson tracing p. 242b.