CIRCA 1780

This elegant ormolu-embellished writing-table is designed in the fashionable French manner introduced in the 1770s. A similarly inspired English example with Greek key frieze copies a bureau plat bearing the stamp of Jacques Dubois (d. 1763), but attributed to his son René, that was supplied to the 6th Earl of Coventry for Croome Court, Warwickshire by the marchand-mercier Poirier in 1765 (see S. Eriksen, Early Neo-classicism in France, 1974, figs. 85 and 100). The English table, sold in these Rooms, 19-20 January 1996, lot 303, was attributed to the pre-eminent cabinet-maker John Linnell who, as the 6th Earl's cabinet-maker, was clearly inspired by French design and his sketch for a commode displays the same Greek key frieze that appears on the Croome Court table (H. Hayward and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, London, 1980, vol. II, p. 140, fig. 278). Another writing-table of the Dubois model at Temple Newsam House, Leeds is listed in the 1808 inventory in Lady Irwin's Dressing Room (Leeds Art Calendar, 1987, no. 99 and 100, p. 17 and 27) and appears in an old photograph of the London shop of M. Harris and Sons from whom it was purchased.