Lot Essay
This secrétaire à abattant relates to a group of similar secrétaires executed by Georg Haupt (1741-1784, master in 1770). These all employ the same basic format of a long frieze drawer above a fall-front framed by a parquetry border above a breakfront single or double drawer on slender tapering legs (see M. Lagerquist, Georg Haupt, Ébéniste du Roi, 1979, pp. 141-155, figs. 26-30, 32 and 34-35). Other features on the secrétaire offered here relate it to Haupt's documented work, including the frieze mount of Vitruvian scrolls framing a central shell which appears on secrétaires and other pieces by Haupt, including a fall-front bureau, a breakfront commode and a bureau plat with cartonnier made for Princess Sophia Albertina (see Lagerquist, op.cit., figs. 36, 57 and 65). The interlaced parquetry border of the fall-front also recurs frequently in Haupt's oeuvre. However, the use of marquetry on the secrétaire offered here is slightly less sophisticated than one would normally expect in documented pieces by Haupt. His parquetry borders are more usually subtly shaded to suggest light falling from one side while the plain expanse of sectionally-cut mahogany veneers on this secrétaire is inconsistent with Haupt's work, which would normally fill this space with a panel of classically inspired marquetry. It therefore seems likely that this secrétaire was executed by one of Haupt's followers such Anders Lundelius (1747-1823, master in 1778) or Carl Forstens (master in 1779, died 1789). A side table by Lundelius, with tapering legs headed by guttae similar to this secrétaire, is illustrated in S. Wallin, Möbler Fran Svenska Herremanshem, 1979, vol. III, fig. 936. A masterstÿcke secrétaire by Forstens with fall-front inlaid with similar panels of flame-grained mahogany within parquetry borders, is illustrated in Lagerquist, op.cit., fig. 80.
Georg Haupt is generally regarded as Sweden's foremost cabinet-maker of the eighteenth century, and is largely credited with introducing the neoclassical style to Sweden in the 1770's. Having served his apprenticeship in Sweden, he worked in Paris for Simon Oeben, brother of Jean-François, ébéniste du roi. Under Oeben's supervision he executed a bureau plat in a mature neoclassical idiom in 1767 for the Duc de Choiseul. Soon after he moved to London, where he developed the distinctive style of marquetry which was to form the basis of his own individual interpretation of the Louis XVI style. He worked there with John Linnell on one of his most important commissions, furnishing the library at Osterley Park, and also collaborated with the influential architect Sir William Chambers, who was himself Swedish born. Chambers may well have recommended Haupt to King Adolf Frederick (1751-1771), for in 1769 he was appointed ébéniste du roi. His establishment as court cabinet-maker was confirmed when Gustaf III (1771-1792) assumed the throne, commissioning a number of works from Haupt which successfully united neoclassical forms with his own distinctive marquetry, thus creating a uniquely Swedish version of the Louis XVI style. An important group of furniture by Haupt, including a secrétaire closely related to the one offered here, once in the Österby Bruk collection, and a commode with the same frieze mount (illustrated in Lagerquist op.cit., p. 144, figs. 57 and 28), was sold Christie's London, 8 December 1994, lots 569, 570 and 576.
Georg Haupt is generally regarded as Sweden's foremost cabinet-maker of the eighteenth century, and is largely credited with introducing the neoclassical style to Sweden in the 1770's. Having served his apprenticeship in Sweden, he worked in Paris for Simon Oeben, brother of Jean-François, ébéniste du roi. Under Oeben's supervision he executed a bureau plat in a mature neoclassical idiom in 1767 for the Duc de Choiseul. Soon after he moved to London, where he developed the distinctive style of marquetry which was to form the basis of his own individual interpretation of the Louis XVI style. He worked there with John Linnell on one of his most important commissions, furnishing the library at Osterley Park, and also collaborated with the influential architect Sir William Chambers, who was himself Swedish born. Chambers may well have recommended Haupt to King Adolf Frederick (1751-1771), for in 1769 he was appointed ébéniste du roi. His establishment as court cabinet-maker was confirmed when Gustaf III (1771-1792) assumed the throne, commissioning a number of works from Haupt which successfully united neoclassical forms with his own distinctive marquetry, thus creating a uniquely Swedish version of the Louis XVI style. An important group of furniture by Haupt, including a secrétaire closely related to the one offered here, once in the Österby Bruk collection, and a commode with the same frieze mount (illustrated in Lagerquist op.cit., p. 144, figs. 57 and 28), was sold Christie's London, 8 December 1994, lots 569, 570 and 576.