The commodes have indented and rounded columnar corners, in the French manner introduced to the Prince of Wales' Carlton House mansion in the 1780s, and illustrated in Thomas Sheraton's, The Cabinet and Upholsterer's Drawing Book, 1793. In his Appendix (plate IV) discussing pier tables 'for ornaments under a glass', he notes 'they are generally made very light, and the style of finishing them is rich and elegant. Sometimes the tops are solid marble, but most commonly veneered in rich satin, or other valuable woods, with a cross-band on the outside'. A satinwood and painted cabinet or lady's desk, with similar French corners and taper-hermed legs, has been attributed to Messrs. Seddon, Sons & Shackleton (C. Gilbert, 'Seddon, Sons & Shackleton', Furniture History, 1997, fig. 27). The engravings depict scenes of rural life, such as feature in the paintings of James Ward, R.A.