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Lot Essay
This superb-quality commode is designed in the elegant mid-18th Century 'Picturesque' manner that evolved in part from an engraving of a Louis Quatorze sarcophagus 'commode' chest after a design by Jean Bérain (d. 1711). The ribbon-scrolled stand, with wave-voluted feet, is further enriched with flowers, reeds and Roman acanthus, while its lambrequin cartouche displays an antique-fretted shell recalling the Roman nature deity Venus.
Undoubtedly by one of the top London cabinet-makers, it is nevertheless something of an anomaly being executed in walnut at a time when imported mahogany had superseded walnut as the fashionable timber of choice, and in having a marble top which is an unusual feature in English commodes. The apron relates to the seat frames of a suite of seat furniture supplied by William Vile and John Cobb to the Hon. John Damer of Came House, Dorset, between 1756-62 (A. Oswald, 'Came House, Dorset - II', Country Life, 27 February 1953, p. 574, figs. 7 & 8), while the handle pattern and other constructional features are associated with the oeuvre of Thomas Chippendale. Chippendale published several related designs in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, 1754, for commodes termed `French Commode Table', particularly No. XLIV. Interestingly, a commode firmly attributed to Chippendale that was supplied to Sir John H. Ward K.C.V.O for Dudley House, Park Lane in circa 1760 - 70 also displayed a marble top (sold Christie's, London, 22 May 2014, lot 1118, £60,000 including premium).
A related commode, though on taller legs, is illustrated in M.Jourdain and F. Rose, English Furniture, The Georgian Period (1750_1830), London, 1953, pl. 108, and another was in the celebrated collection of Samuel Messer at Pelsham, East Sussex, assembled under the guidance of R.W.Symonds, and sold Christie's, London, 5 December 1991, lot 106 (£88,000 including premium)
Undoubtedly by one of the top London cabinet-makers, it is nevertheless something of an anomaly being executed in walnut at a time when imported mahogany had superseded walnut as the fashionable timber of choice, and in having a marble top which is an unusual feature in English commodes. The apron relates to the seat frames of a suite of seat furniture supplied by William Vile and John Cobb to the Hon. John Damer of Came House, Dorset, between 1756-62 (A. Oswald, 'Came House, Dorset - II', Country Life, 27 February 1953, p. 574, figs. 7 & 8), while the handle pattern and other constructional features are associated with the oeuvre of Thomas Chippendale. Chippendale published several related designs in The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director, 1754, for commodes termed `French Commode Table', particularly No. XLIV. Interestingly, a commode firmly attributed to Chippendale that was supplied to Sir John H. Ward K.C.V.O for Dudley House, Park Lane in circa 1760 - 70 also displayed a marble top (sold Christie's, London, 22 May 2014, lot 1118, £60,000 including premium).
A related commode, though on taller legs, is illustrated in M.Jourdain and F. Rose, English Furniture, The Georgian Period (1750_1830), London, 1953, pl. 108, and another was in the celebrated collection of Samuel Messer at Pelsham, East Sussex, assembled under the guidance of R.W.Symonds, and sold Christie's, London, 5 December 1991, lot 106 (£88,000 including premium)