.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The commode chest-of-drawers, with its serpentined forms enriched with cartouche and cabochon-carved pilasters, is designed in the French style introduced by the St. Martin's Lane cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779). Its refined elegance evolved from Chippendale's patterns engraved in 1753 for a 'French Commode Table' and issued then in his The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, pl. LXIX. Designed for a window-pier, its top drawer was originally fitted as a dressing-table.
The adaption of Chippendale patterns and the chest's elaborate carving are characteristics associated with the work of Wright and Elwick, cabinet-makers from Wakefield, Yorkshire. Richard Wright and Edward Elwick whose partnership lasted from 1747 to 1771, both subscribed separately to the first edition of Chippendale's Director of 1754 and they were almost certainly employed by Sir Rowland Winn at Nostell Priory, Leeds, immediately prior to Chippendale who started work there in 1766. Their work shows close parallels with that of their London competitor as demonstrated by the furniture they supplied to Charles, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (d.1782) for Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, and sold Christie's London, 8 July 1998. Furthermore, they appear to have been employed by John Spencer at Cannon Hall in 1768 on the advice of his architect John Carr in preference to the likes of Chippendale or John Cobb, indicating their work to be on a par with the best of London's cabinet-makers.
Serpentine commodes of this form include those commissioned by Edward, 5th Lord Leigh for Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire in the early 1760s. Recorded in a bill dated 1763 and supplied by William Gomm & Son, cabinet-maker and upholsterer of Clerkenwell Close, London, the six 'Exceeding fine Serpentine Commode Dressing Tables' were supplied for between 12 and 15 guineas each. The most expensive of these was sold anonymously at Christie's, London, 5 July 1990, lot 149 (£49,500).
The adaption of Chippendale patterns and the chest's elaborate carving are characteristics associated with the work of Wright and Elwick, cabinet-makers from Wakefield, Yorkshire. Richard Wright and Edward Elwick whose partnership lasted from 1747 to 1771, both subscribed separately to the first edition of Chippendale's Director of 1754 and they were almost certainly employed by Sir Rowland Winn at Nostell Priory, Leeds, immediately prior to Chippendale who started work there in 1766. Their work shows close parallels with that of their London competitor as demonstrated by the furniture they supplied to Charles, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (d.1782) for Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire, and sold Christie's London, 8 July 1998. Furthermore, they appear to have been employed by John Spencer at Cannon Hall in 1768 on the advice of his architect John Carr in preference to the likes of Chippendale or John Cobb, indicating their work to be on a par with the best of London's cabinet-makers.
Serpentine commodes of this form include those commissioned by Edward, 5th Lord Leigh for Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire in the early 1760s. Recorded in a bill dated 1763 and supplied by William Gomm & Son, cabinet-maker and upholsterer of Clerkenwell Close, London, the six 'Exceeding fine Serpentine Commode Dressing Tables' were supplied for between 12 and 15 guineas each. The most expensive of these was sold anonymously at Christie's, London, 5 July 1990, lot 149 (£49,500).