CIRCA 1790, BY JOHN KING, SUPPLIED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HENRY HOLLAND

The architect Henry Holland (1745-1806) was commissioned by the 2nd Earl Spencer to remodel Althorp in 1785. Between then and 1791 Holland liaised with the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre, with whom he had collaborated at Carlton House for the Prince of Wales, to provide the best pieces of French furniture, including a 'Une grande commode en laque' and 'Deux coins idem.' (The Spencer House Sale, Christie's London, 8 July 2010, lot 1050), and with the emigré chair-maker François Hervé to provide the most elaborate seat-furniture (The Spencer House Sale, Christie's London, 8 July, lots 1051-57) to be placed into his new rooms. Holland also almost certainly designed some of the furniture, and employed English firms to execute some of the more simple pieces, notably the Upholsterer John King. King had already directly supplied Lady Spencer (presumably Lavinia, the new Countess Spencer, wife of George John, 2nd Earl, rather than his mother Georgiana, the Dowager Countess Spencer whose husband had died three years previously) with a 'neat mahogany writing box...£8.8s....a Good Mahogany Horse Writing Screen lined with Green Leather...£3.13s.6d.' by 9 December 1786, when he invoiced her for 'Work done' (MSS, British Library, Add. 75753, Althorp Papers). A subsequent document of 1790 - 'Estimate of works yet to be done, including repairs such as 'cleaning and lacquering the brass work of a mahogany waiter...3s.' (see The Spencer House Sale, Christie's London, 8 July 2010, lot 1029), as well as new items of furniture - was drawn up under the instruction of Holland, and the follow-up list of 1791 - a bill for works done - included the present lot as well as the long mahogany sideboard supplied en suite.