POSSIBLY BY THOMAS CHIPPENDALE, THIRD QUARTER 18TH CENTURY

This form of chest of drawers with elegantly serpentined and moulded top on a rectilinear chest relates to that of others supplied by Thomas Chippendale (d.1779), including at Mersham-le-Hatch, Kent, in 1768 and at Paxton House, Berwickshire, in 1774. Its antique pattern of reed-and-pateraed handles was also adopted by Chippendale at this period and featured on a japanned clothes-press supplied to Sir Rowland Winn for the closet adjoining the State Bedchamber at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire (C.Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol.II, figs. 203, 206 and 263). The red wash on the underside is a characteristic feature of a number of pieces of mahogany furniture at Dumfries House, Ayrshire, which were attributed to 'The Dumfries House Cabinet-Maker' - possibly Thomas Chippendale (included in the sale catalogue of the contents of Dumfries House, Christie's, 12-13 July 2007, among them lots 106, 236, 251 and 252).
A very closely related chest but with the slide more conventionally positioned above the upper drawer, was sold anonymously Christie's London, 14 June 2001, lot 164 (£42,300)