Lot Details
Lot 445
George III Mahogany Serpentine Dressing Chest of Drawers in the manner of Thomas Chippendale
Circa 1770
The thumbmolded top above a conforming case fitted with a baize-lined brushing slide over four mahogany-lined cockbeaded graduated drawers, the uppermost opening to lidded compartments and a central well, raised on bracket feet. Height 32 1/4 inches (81.9 cm), width 36 1/4 inches (92 cm), depth 22 3/4 inches (57.7. cm).
Provenance:
Stair and Co., New York.
2018 is the tricentennial of Thomas Chippendale's birth. Chippendale, born in Otley, Yorkshire, is one of the most celebrated of 18th century English furniture designers and makers. His commissions span Great Britain, with Dumfries House in Scotland probably 'the only fully-documented work belonging to Chippendale's Director period'. Commissioned by William Crichton-Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Stair and Dumfries, Chippendale, for a period of seven years starting in 1759, supplied much (and the most elaborate) of the furniture still found at Dumfries today. Because the original Chippendale invoices still exist in the Bute archives, the excellence of design, timbers and constructional features of his workshop's oeuvre, furniture historians are able to identify similar, unprovenanced pieces in other collections. The present George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers is one of these examples, with related aspects to the Dumfries House pieces. These primarily include the red wash on the underside and sometimes the backboard as well as laminated construction of the blocks behind the feet. Of very good quality craftsmanship and materials, this dressing chest additionally has mahogany drawer linings, including drawer fronts, and similar lacquered brass handles, all of which point to the Chippendale workshop.
C
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