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Lot Essay
This cabinet belongs to a small group of Antiquarian furniture executed in the 'Louis Quatorze' fashion, as practiced by André-Charles Boulle, which was popularized in the first decades of the 19th century by George Prince of Wales (later Prince Regent) having been introduced to the Princes famously opulent London home, Carleton House, by the acclaimed architect Henry Holland (d. 1806).
The French emigré craftsman Louis Constantin Le Gaigneur is recorded as having a 'bhul' manufactury at 19 Queen St., Edgeware Road, London between 1815 and 1816. He appears to have worked almost exclusively for the Prince Regent who advanced him 500 for a pair of library tables executed in the 'Louis Quatorze' French fashion for Carleton House in 1815, these remain in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. This cabinet relates strongly to Le Gaigneurs known oeuvre; for example, it bares notable similarities to the afore mentioned tables and to a signed Regency ormolu-mounted rosewood cylinder bureau (A Collection of Important English Furniture, The Property of Mr. Edward Sarofim, Christie's London, 16 November 1995, lot 139), the most notable amongst the many similarities to the latter is the near identical acanthus-cast ormolu cavetto moulding to the upper frieze.
Another cabinet exists of near identical form to the one offered, at Attingham Park, Shropshire, whilst that example is not signed the attribution is supported not only by the stylistic similarities with Le Gaigneur's known work but by the presence of a signed 'boulle' inkwell by Le Gaigneur in the collection there raising the likelihood of a link between the cabinetmaker and Thomas Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick (1770-1832); moreover Berwick was one of the Prince Regent's intimates which strengthens the case yet further.
The wax seal to the reverse of this cabinet bears a Barons coronet above the monogram 'M' this combined with the label inscribed 'Lady Lamb' implies an almost certain provenance of the Lambs, Viscounts Melbourne, who from 1815, also held the additional title of Barons Melbourne (the former in peerage of Ireland, the latter in the peerage of the United Kingdom). The Lamb family provides three potential candidates for the 'Lady Lamb' referred to by the label, the most likely, perhaps, being Elizabeth Lamb 1st Viscountess Melbourne (1751-1818). She was part of the Prince Regent's close circle and was considered to have 'significant influence' with him, as such she would have been a frequent visitor to Carleton house and would have had access to his craftsmen such as Le Gaigneur. The other two candidates being her daughters-in-law, Lady Caroline Lamb (1725-1828) and Alexandrina Julia Theresa Lamb, 3rd Viscountess Melbourne (later Lady Weld-Forester) (1818-1894) ; the former gained some note as a novelist but gained notoriety when in 1812 she scandalized London society by having an affair with Lord Byron, who she coined 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'.
The French emigré craftsman Louis Constantin Le Gaigneur is recorded as having a 'bhul' manufactury at 19 Queen St., Edgeware Road, London between 1815 and 1816. He appears to have worked almost exclusively for the Prince Regent who advanced him 500 for a pair of library tables executed in the 'Louis Quatorze' French fashion for Carleton House in 1815, these remain in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. This cabinet relates strongly to Le Gaigneurs known oeuvre; for example, it bares notable similarities to the afore mentioned tables and to a signed Regency ormolu-mounted rosewood cylinder bureau (A Collection of Important English Furniture, The Property of Mr. Edward Sarofim, Christie's London, 16 November 1995, lot 139), the most notable amongst the many similarities to the latter is the near identical acanthus-cast ormolu cavetto moulding to the upper frieze.
Another cabinet exists of near identical form to the one offered, at Attingham Park, Shropshire, whilst that example is not signed the attribution is supported not only by the stylistic similarities with Le Gaigneur's known work but by the presence of a signed 'boulle' inkwell by Le Gaigneur in the collection there raising the likelihood of a link between the cabinetmaker and Thomas Hill, 2nd Baron Berwick (1770-1832); moreover Berwick was one of the Prince Regent's intimates which strengthens the case yet further.
The wax seal to the reverse of this cabinet bears a Barons coronet above the monogram 'M' this combined with the label inscribed 'Lady Lamb' implies an almost certain provenance of the Lambs, Viscounts Melbourne, who from 1815, also held the additional title of Barons Melbourne (the former in peerage of Ireland, the latter in the peerage of the United Kingdom). The Lamb family provides three potential candidates for the 'Lady Lamb' referred to by the label, the most likely, perhaps, being Elizabeth Lamb 1st Viscountess Melbourne (1751-1818). She was part of the Prince Regent's close circle and was considered to have 'significant influence' with him, as such she would have been a frequent visitor to Carleton house and would have had access to his craftsmen such as Le Gaigneur. The other two candidates being her daughters-in-law, Lady Caroline Lamb (1725-1828) and Alexandrina Julia Theresa Lamb, 3rd Viscountess Melbourne (later Lady Weld-Forester) (1818-1894) ; the former gained some note as a novelist but gained notoriety when in 1812 she scandalized London society by having an affair with Lord Byron, who she coined 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'.