BY WILLIAM OLD AND JOHN ODY, LONDON, CIRCA 1725

Details

A GEORGE I WALNUT AND BURL WALNUT CABINET-ON-SECRETAIRE-CHEST
By William Old and John Ody, London, Circa 1725
The incurved molded cornice above a pair of mirrored doors with later bevelled plates enclosing ten oak-lined drawers, above a slide, the base with a secretaire drawer fitted with leather writing surface, pigeonholes and drawers, over three long drawers with allover crossbanding and featherbanding, bearing the printed maker's paper label inscribed WILLIAM OLD AND JOHN ODY At the Castle in St. Paul's Church-Yard, (over-against the South-Gate of ye Church) London. Makes and Sells all sorts of Cane & Dutch Chairs, Chair Frames for Stuffing and Cane-Sashes. And also all sorts of the best Looking-Glass & Cabinet-Work in Japan Walnut-Tree & Wainscot, at Reasonable rates., on bracket feet, the brasses replaced
77in. (195.5cm.) high, 43½in. (111cm.) wide, 20¼in. (51.5cm.) deep

Provenance

Acquired from W. R. Harry & Co. (Antiques) Ltd., London (inv.7826).

Literature

C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1996, p. 358, fig. 699.

Lot Essay

The makers William Old and John Ody are recorded from circa 1723 until William Old's death in 1738 at which time his widow conducted a sale of his stock of case pieces and chairs from the St. Paul's Churchyard address. Interestingly, the details of this piece, such as the fitted arrangement of the interior, drop pulls and double molded drawer surrounds suggest a manufacture of an earlier date while the shaped bracket feet which appear on other case pieces produced by the firm update the piece to the 1720's. A labelled piece of identical form is also illustrated in C. Gilbert, A Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, Leeds, 1986, fig.700.

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