A MATCHED PAIR OF GEORGE III MAHOGANY CHESTS

THE PROPERTY OF THE CROOME ESTATE TRUST (LOTS 121-122)

Details

A MATCHED PAIR OF GEORGE III MAHOGANY CHESTS
Each with a hinged rectangular top above a panelled front, one with two drawers, the other with one deep drawer simulated as two drawers, the sides with carrying-handles, on a plinth base, minor variations, lacking one carrying-handle
one chest 36 in. (91.5 cm.) high; the other 35¼ in. (89.5 cm.) high; 49½ in. (125.5 cm.) wide; 24½ in. (62 cm.) deep (2)

Provenance

Almost certainly supplied to George William, 6th Earl of Coventry (1722-1809) for Croome Court, Worcestershire and by descent with the Earls of Coventry.

Sale room notice

Recently discovered invoices for 1779 indicate that these chests were made by Messrs Lichfield and Graham, who succeeded the Court cabinet-maker John Cobb (d.1778) in his St. Martin's Lane premises.
Lichfield and Graham invoiced the Earl of Coventry for one chest in April that year, and for the other in July:-
'For a large Strong Mahogany. Chest with a Deep Drawer at Bottom and Extra Spring & tumbler Lock etc. compl.....£8.13.0.'
'For a large strong Mahogany Chest with 2 Drawers at bottom, and Extray. Spring & Tumbler locks to Do.....£8.13.0.'

Lot Essay

This pair of chests were almost certainly amongst the furnishings supplied to George William, 6th Earl of Coventry (1722-1809) for Croome Court, Worcestershire. The Earl did not just favour one cabinet-maker: on the contrary he patronised almost all of the leading cabinet-makers of his day, playing them one against another. These include Mayhew and Ince, France and Bradburn, Vile and Cobb, Chippendale and Rannie, Pierre Langlois, William Linnell, Gordon and Taitt, Marsh and Tatham, George Seddon and Sons, and Robert and George Gillow.
Thomas Chippendale illustrated a related 'Cloths Chest' with a drawer below in his first edition of The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754. However unlike the present chests which sit on plinth bases, Chippendale's has bracket feet.

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