ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS CHIPPENDALE, CIRCA 1765-70

This handsome mahogany press can be confidently attributed to the St Martin's Lane cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale on both stylistic and technical grounds. Its uncomplicated form reflects a style promoted by Chippendale in his Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director first published in 1754. The distinctive 'S-pattern' keyholes were favoured by Chippendale and were a speciality of the Gascoigne family of St.James's (see C.Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, London, 1978, vol. II, fig. 267). The thin red wash over secondary timbers was employed on a number of pieces of restrained mahogany furniture at Dumfries House, Ayrshire, which were attributed to 'The Dumfries House Cabinet-Maker' - possibly Thomas Chippendale (included in the Dumfries House Christie's sale catalogue, 12-13 July 2007, among them lots 106, 236, 251 and 252).

A very similar clothes press was sold Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 27 (£13,125 including premium).