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Lot Essay
This chiffoniere is closely related to a tulipwood and satinwood example bearing the label of Thomas Blades and Son, 177 Piccadilly (illustrated in C.Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p.109, figs.123A and 125 and offered Sotheby's New York, 23 October 1998, lot 279).
Thomas Blades was first recorded working at St. James's Market in 1774. He moved to Jermyn Street by 1784 and worked at the 177 Piccadilly Street premises from 1796-1822. He was in partnership with his son from 1799-1802 which indicates the date of the labelled example. He was joined by another cabinetmaker, Palmer, in 1803 and traded as Blades & Palmer thereafter. Blades, a subscriber to Thomas Sheraton's Drawing Book of 1793, was cited by Sheraton in his list of master cabinetmakers published in 1803.
An identical secretaire formerly in the collection of Leopold Hirsch, is illustrated in R.Edwards and P. Macquoid, eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev.edn., 1954, vol.I, pl.156, fig.75.
Thomas Blades was first recorded working at St. James's Market in 1774. He moved to Jermyn Street by 1784 and worked at the 177 Piccadilly Street premises from 1796-1822. He was in partnership with his son from 1799-1802 which indicates the date of the labelled example. He was joined by another cabinetmaker, Palmer, in 1803 and traded as Blades & Palmer thereafter. Blades, a subscriber to Thomas Sheraton's Drawing Book of 1793, was cited by Sheraton in his list of master cabinetmakers published in 1803.
An identical secretaire formerly in the collection of Leopold Hirsch, is illustrated in R.Edwards and P. Macquoid, eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture, rev.edn., 1954, vol.I, pl.156, fig.75.