拍品专文
In the period prior to 1700 English furniture underwent several influences from the Continent, in particular from Holland, whereas in the period thereafter an opposite current developed, with Dutch furniture gradually absorbing more influneces from England. Dutch cabinet-makers rapidly emulated a number of well-known types of English furniture embellishing them with striking walnut veneers. It is interesting that the guild records of The Hague, for instance, indicate that, between 1711 and 1762, cabinet-makers working in that city were required to produce an 'English cabinet' as their masterpiece. These records also include the names of two Englishmen, John Lywood and John Simney, who submitted their masterpieces in 1722 and 1723 respectively.(Th.H. Lunsingh Scheurleer, 'The Low Countries' in H. Hayward (ed.), World Furniture, London, 1975, p.166)