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Lot Essay
This exceptional cabinet is branded numerous times with the large-scale initials 'RF'. The same brand appears on the magnificent red japanned cabinet which appears in the 1726 inventory ('Red Japan Cabinate') at Erddig, Denbighshire (listed in the house guide, O. Garnett, Erdigg, London, 1999, p.71). The Erddig japanned cabinet was one of two supplied to John Meller (d.1733), Queen Anne's Master in Chancery by John Belchier's workshop in St. Paul's Churchyard, London. Elements of the decoration on this piece, including the fan-bearing figures and the cell-pattern reserves surrounding the arched doors, appear on the other bureau-cabinet in an adjoining room at Erddig (see M. Drury, 'Early Eighteenth-Century Furniture at Erddig', Apollo, July 1978, pp.52-53, pl.11). Belchier worked extensively at Erddig (his bill covering November 1722 to January 1726 amounted to £262 12s) and the cabinets were among its furnishings described in 1732 as being 'in ye grandst manner and after ye newest fashion'. The master of the 'RF' stamp undoubtedly played a crucial role in the making of these sophisticated chinoiserie-decorated case-pieces.
The fantastical 'japanned' decoration on this piece, partially conceived in low relief, reflects the fashion for Chinese ornament inspired by imported lacquer screens and chests and promoted by Messrs. Stalker and Parker in A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing of 1688. Other cabinet-on-chests of this form are illustrated in P. Macquoid, The Age of Walnut, London, 1905, col.plate opposite p.152 and P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1924, vol.I, p.124, fig.12 and p.161, fig.19. Another is illustrated in M. Harris and Sons, A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art, part 1, n.d. (c.1928), p.101.
The fantastical 'japanned' decoration on this piece, partially conceived in low relief, reflects the fashion for Chinese ornament inspired by imported lacquer screens and chests and promoted by Messrs. Stalker and Parker in A Treatise of Japanning and Varnishing of 1688. Other cabinet-on-chests of this form are illustrated in P. Macquoid, The Age of Walnut, London, 1905, col.plate opposite p.152 and P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1924, vol.I, p.124, fig.12 and p.161, fig.19. Another is illustrated in M. Harris and Sons, A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art, part 1, n.d. (c.1928), p.101.