Beschreibung:

AN EARLY GEORGE III MAHOGANY SERPENTINE COMMODE IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS CHIPPENDALE CIRCA 1760 99cm high, 113cm wide, 59cm deep Many parallels can drawn between this piece and Thomas Chippendale's French Rococo designs for serpentine commodes raised on carved cabriole legs. See Peter Ward-Jackson- English Furniture Designs of the Eighteenth Century, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1984, figure 92. A related commode believed to have been made by Thomas Chippendale and commissioned by The 2nd Viscount Galway (d.1772) for Serlby Hall, Nottinghamshire, was sold at Christie's, London, The Samuel Messer Collection, 5th December 1991, Lots 106. For a pair of commodes or related form see, Bonham's, London, Fine English & Continental Furniture and Works of Art, 14th March 2006, Lot 50 (£112,000). Another similar commode was sold at Christie's, London, Important English Furniture and silver, 18th November 2008, Lot 327 (£37,250). For a similar example of commode see, Christopher Claxton-Stevens, 18th Century English Furniture, The Norman Adams Collection, 1983, p.374. Condition Report: Marks, knocks, scratches, and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Some old splits, chips, and small losses. Surface appears to have been previously cleaned and polished giving the timber a 'thinner' depth of colour in areas. The lock to the upped drawer varies from the others and is a period replacement. Its possible the escutcheons and the centre elements of the handles are later or associated. However, they may possibly be original. The actual handles and their fixtures appear original, as do the small key hole escutcheons that sit below the more elaborate ones. No key present, all drawers are open. Some minor evidence of old worm to backboard. Some small amounts of filler applied in places adjacent to the stringing at the edge of the top. Some opening to the join lines between the legs and the carved apron. The dowel joins securing them are likely later. Some chips and losses to the scroll carving of the apron with the largest loss being to the scroll terminal to the centre of the front apron. The tip of one of the scroll elements to the front apron has been detached and glued back in position. The dovetails to the sides of the top two drawers are covered by veneer that incorporates the corresponding beading to the drawer fronts, this is not the case to the lower drawer. Some old repairs and sections of replacement veneers to elements between drawers with some later dark wash applied to help disguise. In areas throughout a dark wash has been applied to help tidy the appearance of veneers. Tip of one screw pikes through the moulding above the apron at the front. Two screws lacking to the underside. There may have been some adjustment or addition of timbers to the underside when the piece was restored (the plain stretchers or blocks between the carcass and the carved stand). Beneath the lowest drawer there are three fillets of replacement timber inset. This may indicated where the stand was previously secured from above. The rear frieze of the stand appears to possibly be a later replacement. The screws inserted from beneath appear to be later. There are several vacant old screw holes to the underside front corners from where the stand was previously fixed. Dark wash applied to backboards and underside. Overall, it appears that there has been restoration to the stand. To a degree, it is difficult to be certain which elements are original or later due to the dark wash which has been applied. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition. Condition Report Disclaimer