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Lot Essay
Designed in a highly refined architectural 'Antique' altar-like form with arched pediment and geometric stringing on tall lions' paw feet, this chiffonier takes inspiration from the Grecian revival popularized by such publications as Thomas Hope's Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, London, 1807, and George Smith's Collection of Designs for Household Furniture and Interior Decoration, London, 1808.
This chiffonier is closely related to a group of calamander-banded furniture supplied by cabinet-maker George Oakley (d.1841) of St. Paul's Churchyard and Old Bond Street for Charles Madryll Cheere of Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire in 1810. A dressing table from this documented commission is illustrated P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture, New York, 1927, vol. III, p. 222, fig. 22 and was sold in these Rooms, 22 April 1989, lot 91. Other pieces of similar design and possibly part of this commission include a nest of four quartetto tables sold anonymously in these Rooms, 21 January 1999, lot 476 ($14,950), and a pair of games tables also sold in these Rooms, 21 October 1999, lot 117 ($32,200).
Oakley was a much lauded society figure and cabinetmaker in late 18th century Georgian society, producing furniture in the Grecian style for the Prince Regent among other distinguished patrons during his long career which spanned from 1789 to 1819. Specializing in inlaid 'Buhl' brass inlay, the firm was granted a royal warrant in 1799 after receiving a visit from Queen Charlotte and other members of the royal family upon which '...her MAJESTY, the Duke and Duchess of YORK, and the PRINCESSES, &c., highly approved of the splendid variety which has justly attracted the notice of the fashionable world' (Morning Chronicle, May 1799).
This chiffonier is closely related to a group of calamander-banded furniture supplied by cabinet-maker George Oakley (d.1841) of St. Paul's Churchyard and Old Bond Street for Charles Madryll Cheere of Papworth Hall, Cambridgeshire in 1810. A dressing table from this documented commission is illustrated P. Macquoid and R. Edwards, eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture, New York, 1927, vol. III, p. 222, fig. 22 and was sold in these Rooms, 22 April 1989, lot 91. Other pieces of similar design and possibly part of this commission include a nest of four quartetto tables sold anonymously in these Rooms, 21 January 1999, lot 476 ($14,950), and a pair of games tables also sold in these Rooms, 21 October 1999, lot 117 ($32,200).
Oakley was a much lauded society figure and cabinetmaker in late 18th century Georgian society, producing furniture in the Grecian style for the Prince Regent among other distinguished patrons during his long career which spanned from 1789 to 1819. Specializing in inlaid 'Buhl' brass inlay, the firm was granted a royal warrant in 1799 after receiving a visit from Queen Charlotte and other members of the royal family upon which '...her MAJESTY, the Duke and Duchess of YORK, and the PRINCESSES, &c., highly approved of the splendid variety which has justly attracted the notice of the fashionable world' (Morning Chronicle, May 1799).