Lot Essay
Thomas Chippendale (d. 1779) published a design for a clothes-press, dated 1753, in his Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 3rd. ed., 1762, pl. CXXIX. This has a similar drawer arrangement and overall design. There are a pair of closely related clothes-presses at Aske Hall, Yorkshire which were supplied by Chippendale to Sir Lawrence Dundas (illustrated in C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol II, fig. 243).
Panshanger, Hertfordshire was purchased by William Clavering-Cowper in 1719. He became the 2nd Earl Cowper on his father's death in 1723. It descended to George, 6th Earl Cowper who also inherited Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire on the death of his mother. She had married as her second husband Henry, last Viscount Palmerston. Lord Cowper leased Brocket Hall as a furnished house, and it is widely believed that he transferred the famous 'Panshanger cabinets' to Panshanger at this time. The cabinets have been confidently attributed to Thomas Chippendale (illustrated in C. Gilbert, Ibid., fig. 103).
Panshanger, Hertfordshire was purchased by William Clavering-Cowper in 1719. He became the 2nd Earl Cowper on his father's death in 1723. It descended to George, 6th Earl Cowper who also inherited Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire on the death of his mother. She had married as her second husband Henry, last Viscount Palmerston. Lord Cowper leased Brocket Hall as a furnished house, and it is widely believed that he transferred the famous 'Panshanger cabinets' to Panshanger at this time. The cabinets have been confidently attributed to Thomas Chippendale (illustrated in C. Gilbert, Ibid., fig. 103).