MID-18TH CENTURY

Details

A DUTCH MAHOGANY CABINET
MID-18TH CENTURY
The upper part with a broken arched pediment centred by an asymmetrical rocaille cartouche, enclosed by a pair of fielded panelled doors flanked by stiles, trailing rocaille and entwined stems, the lower part enclosed by a panelled door between projecting sinuous acanthus carved stiles with flowers, on paw feet, the lower plinth replaced, the interior lined with 18th century polychrome decorated leather, now later glass shelves
91 in. (231 cm.) high; 38¼ in. (97 cm.) wide; 18 in. (46 cm.) deep

Provenance

Lady Serena James, St. Nicholas, Richmond, Yorkshire, sold by her Executors and the Trustees of the Countess of Scarborough's Will Trust, Christie's, South Kensington, 16 May 2001, lot 279.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The flower-festooned and temple-pedimented cabinet, with pilasters terminating in sarcophagus-scrolled trusses and bacchic lion-paws, combines French picturesque ornament and antique/Roman architecture in the mid l8th century fashion; while its polychromed interior is lined with richy flowered leather that is likely to have been manufactured in Mechelen, Belgium (see E.F. Koldeweij, "Gilt leather hangings in chinoiserie and other styles: an English speciality", Furniture History, 2000, pp.61-101. Such floral decorated furniture was much sought after by English collectors and antiquarians in the l9th century.

This type of cabinet, conceived for the storage of tall scrolls, was not conceived with shelves. E.F. Koldeweij, who has seen the cabinet and others like it, is of the opinion that this leather is contemporary and original to this cabinet.

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