Lot Essay
This magnificent neo-classical furniture is very closely related to a number of items of furniture by the celebrated Hague cabinet-maker Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809). Horrix probably enjoyed considerable success from the off-set of his career and became the principal supplier of furniture to the Stadholder's court between 1767 and 1795. Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia, the consort of Stadholder Prince William V, paid Horrix 557 florins in 1780 for ...Comodes wozu ihm Chinesisch Lackwerk geliefert', which is the earliest mention of furniture decorated in this manner at the end of the 18th Century. (R.J. Baarsen, ''In de commode van Parijs tot Den Haag', Matthijs Horrix (1735-1809), een meubelmaker in Den Haag in de 2de helft van de 18de eeuw' Oud Holland 107 (1993), p. 176)
Reinier Baarsen has suggested that furniture decorated with Japanese, Chinese or imitation lacquer panels may have become a speciality of cabinet-makers working in The Hague. Besides Horrix, who clearly received the most important commissions, Theodorus Borneman (1735-1798) executed several items of furniture in this genre. The inventory compiled on his death lists '...wortelhoute Secretaires, twee dito met Lak ingelegd' but also 'ovaale met Lak ingelegde Thee-tafels', (Baarsen, ibid. p.226)
The present suite is decorated with several distinctive decorative features, which are characteristic for Horrix's luxurious marquetry furniture. The octagonal legs, for instance, also appear on a pair of commodes at Huys ten Donck near Rotterdam, and on a commode in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (Baarsen, ibid, pp. 212-214, figs. 51-53), whereas the raised dentilled borders feature on two secretaires and a commode in private collections. They also embellish the magnificent pagoda-shaped lacquer-decorated clock case by Horrix which was recently acquired by the Rijksmuseum. This clock was supplied to Princess Wilhelmina in 1781 and is described in the invoice as '...une Caisse a la Chinoise pour une Pendule etc'. It was intended to house the clock, which the princess received as a present from her uncle, King Frederik of Prussia (Baarsen, ibid, p. 233).
An extraodinary feature of this suite are the removable lacquer panels. In the commode these panels are secured by a latch in the interior, which can only be released when the top drawer is removed. The lacquer panels of the encoignures can be lifted out by sliding an oak panel from the door. This reveals the honey-coloured Japanese hardwood on which the lacquer has been glued.
Reinier Baarsen has suggested that furniture decorated with Japanese, Chinese or imitation lacquer panels may have become a speciality of cabinet-makers working in The Hague. Besides Horrix, who clearly received the most important commissions, Theodorus Borneman (1735-1798) executed several items of furniture in this genre. The inventory compiled on his death lists '...wortelhoute Secretaires, twee dito met Lak ingelegd' but also 'ovaale met Lak ingelegde Thee-tafels', (Baarsen, ibid. p.226)
The present suite is decorated with several distinctive decorative features, which are characteristic for Horrix's luxurious marquetry furniture. The octagonal legs, for instance, also appear on a pair of commodes at Huys ten Donck near Rotterdam, and on a commode in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (Baarsen, ibid, pp. 212-214, figs. 51-53), whereas the raised dentilled borders feature on two secretaires and a commode in private collections. They also embellish the magnificent pagoda-shaped lacquer-decorated clock case by Horrix which was recently acquired by the Rijksmuseum. This clock was supplied to Princess Wilhelmina in 1781 and is described in the invoice as '...une Caisse a la Chinoise pour une Pendule etc'. It was intended to house the clock, which the princess received as a present from her uncle, King Frederik of Prussia (Baarsen, ibid, p. 233).
An extraodinary feature of this suite are the removable lacquer panels. In the commode these panels are secured by a latch in the interior, which can only be released when the top drawer is removed. The lacquer panels of the encoignures can be lifted out by sliding an oak panel from the door. This reveals the honey-coloured Japanese hardwood on which the lacquer has been glued.