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Lot Essay
THE PROVENANCE
When sold at Christie's in 1950, this commode was owned by Lt. Col. Josslyn Ramsden (1876-1952), the 5th son of Sir John Ramsden, 5th Bt. (1831-1914). The Ramsden family had been large landowners in South Yorkshire for several centuries, particularly in Huddersfield. Their oldest seat was Byram Hall, at Ferrybridge, near Wakefield. This house was extensively altered in the 1770s by John Carr of York and the interior decoration by Robert Adam in 1780. Although Lt. Col. Ramsden never inherited Byram, or any of the main Ramsden houses, it seems possible on geographical and stylistic grounds that this commode, which can be linked to the great Wakefield cabinet-making firm of Wright and Elwick, should have been originally supplied to that family. In time Lt. Col. Ramsden's son came to inherit the baronetcy.
This commode has a number of features identified in the research for the Christie's Wentworth sale on 8 July 1998 see pp. 110 - 112 0f the catalogue) as characteristic of the partnership in Wakefield, Yorkshire, between Richard Wright and Edward Elwick. This partnership lasted between 1747 and 1771. Wakefield is only eight miles from Byram Hall so communications would have been easy. The stylistic characteristics, the association with Carr of York, and the proximity of Byram Hall to Wakefield, all allow the possibility that this commode was originally supplied to the Ramsden family for that house.
WRIGHT AND ELWICK OF WAKEFIELD
One of the characteristics of the lots in the 1998 Wentworth sale attributed to the firm is a close adherence to the designs in Chippendale's Director of 1754 and 1762, particularly the commode, lot 65, and kneehole dressing-cabinet, lot 70. Both Wright and Elwick subscribed separately to the first 1754 edition. This Ramsden commode is closely based on pl. LXIX in the third edition, a pattern for a 'French Commode Table'. The attribution of the Wentworth lots was strengthened by the presence at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, of two corresponding pieces of furniture that could be linked to payments to Wright and Elwick. These were a dressing-commode illustrated in P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p. 153, fig. 135, and a cabinet, almost identical to the Wentworth kneehole dressing-cabinet, lot 70. The Nostell cabinet was exhibited at Leeds, Temple Newsam House, Thomas Chippendale, June - July 1951, no. 26 (illustrated). The crucial connection is the near certainty that Wright and Elwick were employed at Nostell before Chippendale himself began work there in 1766.
CARR OF YORK
At an unknown date circa 1770 the architect John Carr of York (1723-1807), was engaged in extensive additions to Byram Hall, including stables (H. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, London, 3rd. ed., 1995, p. 224). Christopher Gilbert has already shown the role that Carr played in pointing John Spencer of Cannon Hall towards Wright and Elwick in 1768. Spencer's diary records Carr taking him around 'Cobbs, Chippendale and several others of the most eminent Cabinet-Makers to consider of proper Furniture for my drawing Room'. Possibly put off by the potential cost of these eminent London makers, Spencer was steered by Carr towards Elwick (C. Gilbert, 'Wright and Elwick of Wakefield, 1748-1824: A Study of Provincial Patronage', Furniture History, 1976, p. 36).
When sold at Christie's in 1950, this commode was owned by Lt. Col. Josslyn Ramsden (1876-1952), the 5th son of Sir John Ramsden, 5th Bt. (1831-1914). The Ramsden family had been large landowners in South Yorkshire for several centuries, particularly in Huddersfield. Their oldest seat was Byram Hall, at Ferrybridge, near Wakefield. This house was extensively altered in the 1770s by John Carr of York and the interior decoration by Robert Adam in 1780. Although Lt. Col. Ramsden never inherited Byram, or any of the main Ramsden houses, it seems possible on geographical and stylistic grounds that this commode, which can be linked to the great Wakefield cabinet-making firm of Wright and Elwick, should have been originally supplied to that family. In time Lt. Col. Ramsden's son came to inherit the baronetcy.
This commode has a number of features identified in the research for the Christie's Wentworth sale on 8 July 1998 see pp. 110 - 112 0f the catalogue) as characteristic of the partnership in Wakefield, Yorkshire, between Richard Wright and Edward Elwick. This partnership lasted between 1747 and 1771. Wakefield is only eight miles from Byram Hall so communications would have been easy. The stylistic characteristics, the association with Carr of York, and the proximity of Byram Hall to Wakefield, all allow the possibility that this commode was originally supplied to the Ramsden family for that house.
WRIGHT AND ELWICK OF WAKEFIELD
One of the characteristics of the lots in the 1998 Wentworth sale attributed to the firm is a close adherence to the designs in Chippendale's Director of 1754 and 1762, particularly the commode, lot 65, and kneehole dressing-cabinet, lot 70. Both Wright and Elwick subscribed separately to the first 1754 edition. This Ramsden commode is closely based on pl. LXIX in the third edition, a pattern for a 'French Commode Table'. The attribution of the Wentworth lots was strengthened by the presence at Nostell Priory, Yorkshire, of two corresponding pieces of furniture that could be linked to payments to Wright and Elwick. These were a dressing-commode illustrated in P. Macquoid, The Age of Mahogany, London, 1906, p. 153, fig. 135, and a cabinet, almost identical to the Wentworth kneehole dressing-cabinet, lot 70. The Nostell cabinet was exhibited at Leeds, Temple Newsam House, Thomas Chippendale, June - July 1951, no. 26 (illustrated). The crucial connection is the near certainty that Wright and Elwick were employed at Nostell before Chippendale himself began work there in 1766.
CARR OF YORK
At an unknown date circa 1770 the architect John Carr of York (1723-1807), was engaged in extensive additions to Byram Hall, including stables (H. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, London, 3rd. ed., 1995, p. 224). Christopher Gilbert has already shown the role that Carr played in pointing John Spencer of Cannon Hall towards Wright and Elwick in 1768. Spencer's diary records Carr taking him around 'Cobbs, Chippendale and several others of the most eminent Cabinet-Makers to consider of proper Furniture for my drawing Room'. Possibly put off by the potential cost of these eminent London makers, Spencer was steered by Carr towards Elwick (C. Gilbert, 'Wright and Elwick of Wakefield, 1748-1824: A Study of Provincial Patronage', Furniture History, 1976, p. 36).