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Lot Essay
With its open pierced-trelliswork superstructure and secretaire base, this chiffonier belongs to a group of related works with minor variations in the pattern of the trelliswork, the drawer arrangement and feet. This group includes two examples from Hornby Castle, Yorkshire (illustrated in R. Edwards and P. Macquoid, eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture, New York, 1924, vol. I, p. 141, figs. 43 and 44). Another virtually identical pair at Ashburnam Place, Sussex can be seen in a photograph circa 1953 of the Large Drawing-Room (reproduced in Christie's London, 14 June 2001, lot 140). Further examples include: one sold anonymously, Christie's London, 12 November 1985, lot 139; another from the Thursby-Pelham Collection illustrated in O. Brackett, English Furniture Illustrated, rev. edn., 1950, pl. CLXXV; and a third from the collection of the Dowager Lady Dundas, Glencairn, Leamington, in M. Harris and Sons, A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art: Part II, London, n.d., p. 302, no. F14158.
This chiffonier was formerly part of the collection of the Dukes of Arundel. It has been suggested that the presence of the AH mark on the upper left corner of the back of this chiffonier may be an inventory mark for Arundel House, the 17th century London house of the Earls of Arundel formerly located on The Strand along the banks of the river Thames. Highly regarded for its vaulted 'Roman' unified interior, Arundel House contained the extensive and important art collections assembled by the Earl of Arundel under Charles I, including an impressive array of Venetian paintings and Levantine marble statuary.
A map of The Strand dating from circa 1648 (reproduced here) shows the house's proximity to other prominent aristocratic palaces such as Somerset House, among others, which were for the most part all demolished and replaced during the eighteenth century. Arundel House was disposed of when the family moved into the newly constructed Norfolk House in St. James during the middle of the 18th century around the time that this chiffonier would have been made, therefore it is more likely that this was made for another of the family's homes.
This chiffonier was formerly part of the collection of the Dukes of Arundel. It has been suggested that the presence of the AH mark on the upper left corner of the back of this chiffonier may be an inventory mark for Arundel House, the 17th century London house of the Earls of Arundel formerly located on The Strand along the banks of the river Thames. Highly regarded for its vaulted 'Roman' unified interior, Arundel House contained the extensive and important art collections assembled by the Earl of Arundel under Charles I, including an impressive array of Venetian paintings and Levantine marble statuary.
A map of The Strand dating from circa 1648 (reproduced here) shows the house's proximity to other prominent aristocratic palaces such as Somerset House, among others, which were for the most part all demolished and replaced during the eighteenth century. Arundel House was disposed of when the family moved into the newly constructed Norfolk House in St. James during the middle of the 18th century around the time that this chiffonier would have been made, therefore it is more likely that this was made for another of the family's homes.