Lot Essay
This commode chest-of-drawers of serpentined sarcophagus form is embellished with ormolu mounts in the English manner. The English handles, designed in the 'antique' manner with 'Etruscan'-pearled plinths supporting laurel-festooned urns and paterae, correspond to pattern no. 2205 in a late 18th Century Birmingham metal-worker's book, while the escutcheon plates, with sacred urns flanked by laurel-festooned portrait-medallions, corresponds to handle-pattern no. 2191 (N. Goodison, 'Metal-Work Pattern Books', Furniture History Society Journal, 1975, pl. 21). The acanthus-enriched feet displaying ox-heads correspond to pattern no. 2354 (Goodison, op.cit., pl. 15).