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Lot Essay
This imposing bureau plat is part of a distinguished group of Louis XV-style furniture of identical form and closely related gilt-bronze mounts found in at least three prestigious 19th century British collections. Previously thought to have been French of the Louis Philippe or Napoleon III period, recent research suggests that they are of English manufacture.
A pair of very similar rosewood bureau plat is in the collection of the dukes of Buccleuch and were almost certainly acquired by Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch (d. 1884), one of the richest landowners in Britain. With a large number of properties to furnish including Dalkeith and Bowhill, the 5th Duke would have acquired his bureaux after his coming of age from the 1820s when he commenced a period of considerable expenditure on building, decorating and collecting.
Another virtually identical kingwood bureau plat was in the collection of the earls of Normanton at Somerley, Hampshire, recorded by Country Life in the Picture Gallery in 1958; this model was probably acquired by Welbore Ellis Agar, 2nd Earl of Normanton (d. 1868) who had the opulent Picture Gallery built in 1850 to display his splendid works of art. A further bureau plat was acquired by Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt (d. 1904) for Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, Ireland (sold Christie’s, London, 24-25 September 1984, lot 489). These three prominent aristocrats were contemporaneous collectors with collections that exemplify the lavish taste of the period. Several additional examples are known:
- A further finely veneered in wood marquetry depicting hunting and village-life scenes sold Christie’s, Paris, 17 June 2003, lot 166 (illustrated Payne op. cit., p. 89).
- Another sold Sotheby’s, Villa Demidoff, near Florence, 21-24 April 1969, lot 235.
- Examples in 'Boulle' marquetry sold Christie's, New York, 26 October 1993, lot 383, and subsequently, Christie's, New York, 28 October 2003, lot 187 and Christie's, London, 18 September 2014, lot 200.
- A bureau in 'Boulle' marquetry and of the same distinctive form is clearly visible on the stand of Litchfield and Radclyff at the London International Exhibition in 1862 (The Illustrated London News, 27 September 1862, p. 352) and indicates the probable maker.
A pair of very similar rosewood bureau plat is in the collection of the dukes of Buccleuch and were almost certainly acquired by Walter Francis, 5th Duke of Buccleuch (d. 1884), one of the richest landowners in Britain. With a large number of properties to furnish including Dalkeith and Bowhill, the 5th Duke would have acquired his bureaux after his coming of age from the 1820s when he commenced a period of considerable expenditure on building, decorating and collecting.
Another virtually identical kingwood bureau plat was in the collection of the earls of Normanton at Somerley, Hampshire, recorded by Country Life in the Picture Gallery in 1958; this model was probably acquired by Welbore Ellis Agar, 2nd Earl of Normanton (d. 1868) who had the opulent Picture Gallery built in 1850 to display his splendid works of art. A further bureau plat was acquired by Mervyn Wingfield, 7th Viscount Powerscourt (d. 1904) for Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow, Ireland (sold Christie’s, London, 24-25 September 1984, lot 489). These three prominent aristocrats were contemporaneous collectors with collections that exemplify the lavish taste of the period. Several additional examples are known:
- A further finely veneered in wood marquetry depicting hunting and village-life scenes sold Christie’s, Paris, 17 June 2003, lot 166 (illustrated Payne op. cit., p. 89).
- Another sold Sotheby’s, Villa Demidoff, near Florence, 21-24 April 1969, lot 235.
- Examples in 'Boulle' marquetry sold Christie's, New York, 26 October 1993, lot 383, and subsequently, Christie's, New York, 28 October 2003, lot 187 and Christie's, London, 18 September 2014, lot 200.
- A bureau in 'Boulle' marquetry and of the same distinctive form is clearly visible on the stand of Litchfield and Radclyff at the London International Exhibition in 1862 (The Illustrated London News, 27 September 1862, p. 352) and indicates the probable maker.