ATTRIBUTED TO THE WORKSHOP OF JOHN BELCHIER, AND BRANDED 'RF', CIRCA 1720

This cabinet is branded with the large-scale initials 'RF' which appears on the magnificent red japanned cabinet inventoried in 1726 at Erddig, Denbighshire and supplied by John Belchier (see A. Bowett, Early Georgian Furniture 1715-1740, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2009, p. 61, fig 2:16). Belchier worked extensively at Erddig (his bill covering November 1722 to January 1726 amounted to £262 12s). Elements of the decoration, including the fan-bearing figures and the cell-pattern reserves, appear on a cabinet in an adjoining room at Erddig (see M. Drury, 'Early Eighteenth-Century Furniture at Erddig', Apollo, July 1978, pp. 52-53, pl.11). The master of the 'RF' stamp undoubtedly played a crucial role in the making of these sophisticated chinoiserie-decorated case-pieces. A cabinet of this same form also stamped 'RF' was sold, Christie's, New York, 18 October 2001, lot 332 (illustrated in Bowett, op. cit, pp. 138-139, figs. 3:82-83).