CIRCA 1770, ATTRIBUTED TO HENRY HILL

The 'commode' chest-of-drawers, with top and frame serpentined in the French manner and with moulded borders stained Etruscan-black, corresponds to the fashion introduced in the early years of George III's reign by the St. Martin's Lane cabinet-makers such as John Cobb (d. 1778), who in 1766 invoiced such a commode to James West at Alscot Park, Warwickshire, (L. Wood, Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, p. 51, fig. 35). It also relates to a chest-of-drawers, also incorporating a dressing-table slide, that the Marlborough cabinet-maker Henry Hill (d. 1778) is likely to have included in his furnishings totalling £1,300 supplied to Corsham Court, Wiltshire between 1760 and 1778 (L. Wood, 'Furniture for Lord Delaval: Metropolitan and Provincial', Furniture History, 1990, p. 206, fig. 24). Among related commodes is one from the Samuel Messer Collection, sold Christie's London, 5 December 1991, lot 118; and another with slide-fitted drawer acquired in 1937 by the Victoria and Albert Museum (M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1982, p. 180; inv. no. W.55-1937).