A CHINESE EXPORT LACQUER DRESSING-COMMODE of serpentine form, the shaped rectangular twin-flap top decorated sans traverse with warriors in full ceremonial costume within a stylised foliate and rosette border enclosing a fitted black and gold-lacquer interior with lifting rectangular dressing-mirror to the reverse and thirteen lidded- compartments decorated with stylised sprays and numbered, the reverses of the flaps decorated with bamboo, flowers and birds, above a dentilled and beaded cornice and a simulated long drawer, decorated overall with baskets of flowers within a gold lacquer border with foliate-trails, above two tiers of three further drawers similarly- decorated around a shaped kneehole with three further short drawers and flanked by bamboo decoration to the interior of the kneehole, upon a beaded, panelled double bow-fronted plinth, the sides similarly decorated with Export porcelain and still-lives of flowers and fruit and with carrying-handles within a gilt-embossed border, on shaped bracket feet with rosette patera, last quarter 18th Century84¼in. (112.5cm.) wide; 13¼in. (77cm.) high; 27¼in. (69cm.) deep

A CHINESE EXPORT LACQUER DRESSING-COMMODE of serpentine form, the shaped rectangular twin-flap top decorated sans traverse with warriors in full ceremonial costume within a stylised foliate and rosette border enclosing a fitted black and gold-lacquer interior with lifting rectangular dressing-mirror to the reverse and thirteen lidded- compartments decorated with stylised sprays and numbered, the reverses of the flaps decorated with bamboo, flowers and birds, above a dentilled and beaded cornice and a simulated long drawer, decorated overall with baskets of flowers within a gold lacquer border with foliate-trails, above two tiers of three further drawers similarly- decorated around a shaped kneehole with three further short drawers and flanked by bamboo decoration to the interior of the kneehole, upon a beaded, panelled double bow-fronted plinth, the sides similarly decorated with Export porcelain and still-lives of flowers and fruit and with carrying-handles within a gilt-embossed border, on shaped bracket feet with rosette patera, last quarter 18th Century 84¼in. (112.5cm.) wide; 13¼in. (77cm.) high; 27¼in. (69cm.) deep

Details

A CHINESE EXPORT LACQUER DRESSING-COMMODE of serpentine form, the shaped rectangular twin-flap top decorated sans traverse with warriors in full ceremonial costume within a stylised foliate and rosette border enclosing a fitted black and gold-lacquer interior with lifting rectangular dressing-mirror to the reverse and thirteen lidded- compartments decorated with stylised sprays and numbered, the reverses of the flaps decorated with bamboo, flowers and birds, above a dentilled and beaded cornice and a simulated long drawer, decorated overall with baskets of flowers within a gold lacquer border with foliate-trails, above two tiers of three further drawers similarly- decorated around a shaped kneehole with three further short drawers and flanked by bamboo decoration to the interior of the kneehole, upon a beaded, panelled double bow-fronted plinth, the sides similarly decorated with Export porcelain and still-lives of flowers and fruit and with carrying-handles within a gilt-embossed border, on shaped bracket feet with rosette patera, last quarter 18th Century
84¼in. (112.5cm.) wide; 13¼in. (77cm.) high; 27¼in. (69cm.) deep

Lot Essay

This exotic dressing-table-cum-writing-desk was designed to furnish the window-pier of a bedroom apartment, and evolved from the serpentine-fronted George III 'bureau-dressing-table' with drawer-pedestals such as Thomas Chippendale illustrated in hs Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director,1763, pl. LXII.

A lacquer version of this type, manufactured in Canton, was acquired by Robert Chilk (d.1782) for Osterley Park, Middlesex (see J. Hardy Osterley Park House, London 1985). Chippendale is also credited with the 'toilet-table' pattern, which features the loper-supported hinged top that conceals a rising toilet-glass and lidded toilet-compartments (illustrated in the Society of Upholsterer's Genteel Household Furniture in the Present Taste, circa 1765 part II, pl. 35).

This black lacquer dressing-table is embellished with polychromed scenes within golden pie-enriched bands and festive vine-scrolled borders. Its top portrays an Imperial audience, while the drawers and ends are decorated with bowls of fruit and flowers. The scenes of birds and butterlies amongst flowering shrubs that decorate the interior, relate to those of a closely related serpentine black and gold lacquer dressing-table in the King's Bedroom at the Royal Pavillion, Brighton (see J. Dinkle, The Royal Pavillion Brighton 1989, p.31.

The plinth's pearled bands and patera-enrichments reflect the 'antique' influence of Robert Adam's, Works in Architiecture 1773

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