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Lot Essay
With its superbly figured timber, eared top and acanthus-enriched scrolled volute-truss angles, this commode is closely related to the group of commodes commissioned by Edward, 5th Lord Leigh for Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwickshire in the early 1760's. 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, only one of the more expensive form being made. This latter, most expensive commode, which displays remarkably similar angles to the Schieszler commode, although it has four long drawers, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 5 July 1990, lot 149 (49,500).
A design for a related chest of drawers is included in William Gomm's sketch book dating from 1761 (now in the Downs MSS in the Winterthur Library, Delaware), and this is illustrated in L. Boynton, 'William & Richard Gomm', Burlington Magazine, June 1980, fig.33. Interestingly, William Gomm subscribed to Mortimer's Universal Director, 1754, and Richard Gomm subscribed to Thomas Chippendale's Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, which included related 'French commode tables'.
Aside from the documented Stoneleigh commodes, all of which have four long graduated drawers, the Schieszler commode belongs to a small and distinguished group, including that illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks, London, 1940, p.39, fig.28; another, with carving between the drawers formerly in the collection of Viscount Enfield, discussed in P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p.146, fig. 129; another, with five drawers and closely related bead-and-reel filled angles, illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Furniture Making in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England, London, 1955, pp.110-111, figs.163 and 164; another, with five drawers sold anonymously at Christie's London, 9 April 1992, lot 127; and a final commode from Moccas Court, Herefordshire, sold from the collection of H. J. Joel, Childwickbury, Hertfordshire, Christie's House sale, 15 May 1978, lot 94.
A design for a related chest of drawers is included in William Gomm's sketch book dating from 1761 (now in the Downs MSS in the Winterthur Library, Delaware), and this is illustrated in L. Boynton, 'William & Richard Gomm', Burlington Magazine, June 1980, fig.33. Interestingly, William Gomm subscribed to Mortimer's Universal Director, 1754, and Richard Gomm subscribed to Thomas Chippendale's Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, which included related 'French commode tables'.
Aside from the documented Stoneleigh commodes, all of which have four long graduated drawers, the Schieszler commode belongs to a small and distinguished group, including that illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Masterpieces of English Furniture and Clocks, London, 1940, p.39, fig.28; another, with carving between the drawers formerly in the collection of Viscount Enfield, discussed in P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p.146, fig. 129; another, with five drawers and closely related bead-and-reel filled angles, illustrated in R.W. Symonds, Furniture Making in Seventeenth and Eighteenth Century England, London, 1955, pp.110-111, figs.163 and 164; another, with five drawers sold anonymously at Christie's London, 9 April 1992, lot 127; and a final commode from Moccas Court, Herefordshire, sold from the collection of H. J. Joel, Childwickbury, Hertfordshire, Christie's House sale, 15 May 1978, lot 94.