Antique cabinets
Starting at the time of the Commonwealth under Cromwell, when cabinets would normally have been made of oak, and then progressing through the reigns of Charles II, James II, William and Mary to Queen Anne, increasingly early cabinet-made pieces were appearing veneered in Walnut or having panels of Marquetry inlaid into a ground of Walnut and Kingwood. Oyster veneering became popular before the introduction of mahogany as the mainstay for fine furniture under the first four King Georges. The middle years of the 18th century are marked by the popularity of the rococo style of which Chippendale, Vile and Cobb, Ince and Mayhem and the Linnells were all great proponents. This then gave way to Robert and George Adams' neo-classical designs during the last quarter of the century. Next, during the early years of the 19th century, the exotic Regency period saw a completely different feel to English furniture with the greater use of more exotic woods like coromandel, padouk, goncalo alves, rosewood and amboyna.
Charles II Oak and Ebony Coffer
No: 10366
An important 17th Century Oak Coffer, the hinged lid of plank construction opening to a candle box and tray, above a frieze with ebonised lozenge and bar appliques above a carved band and three panel front, each panel with geometric ebonised appliques and panels within mouldings, the stiles with ebonised geometric and split turned mouldings, the whole with panelled ends and raised on stiles.
Note: Often referred to as Country Furniture, pieces of this nature were not made by estate joiners but would have been made in the major towns and cities. The degree of complexity would have made this an expensive "showpiece" when it was first made and strongly suggests it would been made for a more important household.
Circa 1670
H: 27½" (69 cms) W: 47" (119 cms) D: 21½" (54 cms)
Price: £1,850 / US$ 2,812 / € 2,183
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Late 17th. Century Oak Three Panel Coffer
No: 10367
A late Seventeenth Century Oak Coffer, the four panel lid retaining the original ring hinges above the scratch carved frieze and three panel front, each panel with a carved lozenge and fleur de lys decoration, the whole raised on stiles and having panelled ends. This example has a particularly good colour and patination.
Circa 1680
H: 28" (71 cms) W: 49½" (125 cms) D: 18" (45 cms)
Price: £1,675 / US$ 2,546 / € 1,977
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William and Mary Oyster Veneered Kingwood Parquetry Inlaid Cabinet on Chest
No: 398T
A truly exceptional early William and Mary period Oyster Kingwood Parquetry Inlaid Two Door Cabinet on Chest attributed to Thomas Pistor of London. The top of this piece has a shaped moulding above a flat moulded section and a cavetto moulding leading to the convex frieze drawer above two geometrically inlaid doors retaining the original locks and hinges. The insides of the doors are similarly inlaid and reveal an arrangement of eleven oyster veneered drawers around a central geometrically inlaid door which opens to reveal five further small drawers. The base is fitted with two half width and two full width geometrically inlaid drawers and the whole is raised on flat bun feet. The sides are also geometrically inlaid and crossbanded. The roundels to the front are all crossbanded as are the doors and drawers. This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire an extremely rare and valuable Antique Cabinet.
Attribution: This exceptional piece is one from a family of cabinets all made by Thomas Pistor, who worked in London from about 1668 to 1706. We have been fortunate enough to have owned three of these pieces in the last 60 years. The first is that illustrated in Dr. Adam Bowett's book "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne " illus. 7.30, page 209. Bowett comments in his book that as Kingwood ( Princeswood) was the most expensive and rarest exotic veneer available at the time, it was only ever used on the very best and most prized items. Although the piece shown in the book is an escritoire rather than a cabinet on chest, the second piece we acquired shortly after the first example and which this is, is indeed a cabinet on chest, again by the same maker using the same patterns as the escritoire. The attribution of these extraordinary pieces is based on an article in Country Life 11th. August 1950, depicting Buxted Park, the home of Sir Basil Ionedes, and showing quite clearly a conforming parquetry inlaid Kingwood Escritoire and commenting that this bears the makers' label for Mr. Thomas Pistor, Ludgate Hill, London
A major article on Thomas Pistor and his son, also Thomas, was published in the Journal of the Furniture History Society "Furniture History" in 2000, and was researched and written by Adriana Turpin. She rightly states that Pistor's work is on a par with the Royal Cabinetmakers, John Gumley and Gerrit Jensen. and indeed. all three worked for Colonel James Grahme who was a high ranking courtier to James II. Sadly, we cannot trace for whom this cabinet on chest was made but the possibility exists of a royal or near royal provenance. See FHS Journal 2000, pp 43 to 60.
Lit: "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne ", Dr. Adam Bowett, illus. 7.30, page 209.
"Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840", Geoffrey Beard & Christopher Gilbert Page 701.
"Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 - 1840", Christopher Gilbert, Page 44.
"The London Furniture Makers from the Restoration to the Victorian Era 1660-1840", Sir Ambrose Heal. Page 138.
Circa 1685
H: 70¾" (179 cms) W: 47½" (120 cms) D: 21" (53 cms)
Price: £90,000 / US$ 136,800 / € 106,200
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William and Mary Oyster Veneered Kingwood Cabinet on Chest by Thomas Pistor
No: 10283
An extraordinary William and Mary Period Kingwood Oyster veneered and Rosewood Crossbanded Cabinet on Chest by Thomas Pistor, the moulded top above a bolection moulded secret drawer oyster veneered to resemble a wave motion and above two doors each with geometrically inlaid patterns of roundels and corner spandrels within crossbanded borders and opening to reveal a fully fitted interior of 11 drawers around a central door all conformingly inlaid, the door opening to reveal further small drawers, the base with two half width and two full width oyster kingwood geometrically inlaid drawers with conforming bandings and the whole raised on Bun Feet. This is a rare opportunity to acquire this remarkable Antique Cabinet.
Attribution:
This exceptional piece is one from a family of cabinets all made by Thomas Pistor, who worked in London from about 1668 to 1706. We have been fortunate enough to have owned three of these pieces in the last 60 years. The first is illustrated in Dr. Adam Bowett's book "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne " illus. 7.30, page 209. Bowett comments in his book that as Kingwood (Princeswood) was the most expensive and rarest exotic veneer available at the time, it was only ever used on the very best and most prized items.. The attribution of these extraordinary pieces is based on an article in Country Life 11th. August 1950, depicting Buxted Park, the home of Sir Basil Ionedes, and showing quite clearly a conforming parquetry inlaid Kingwood Escritoire and commenting that this bears the makers' label for Mr. Thomas Pistor, Ludgate Hill, London
A major article on Thomas Pistor and his son, also Thomas, was published in the Journal of the Furniture History Society "Furniture History" in 2000, and was researched and written by Adriana Turpin. She rightly states that Pistor's work is on a par with the Royal Cabinetmakers, John Gumley and Gerrit Jensen. and indeed. all three worked for Colonel James Grahme who was a high ranking courtier to James II. See FHS Journal 2000, pp 43 to 60.
Lit: "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne ", Dr. Adam Bowett, illus. 7.30, page 209.
"Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840", Geoffrey Beard & Christopher Gilbert Page 701.
"Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 - 1840", Christopher Gilbert, Page 44.
"The London Furniture Makers from the Restoration to the Victorian Era 1660-1840", Sir Ambrose Heal. Page 138.
Circa 1690
H: 65" (165 cms) W: 40" (101 cms) D: 19½" (49 cms)
Price: £60,000 / US$ 91,200 / € 70,800
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Fabulous William and Mary Period Oyster Kingwood Parquetry Inlaid Escritoire
No: 398S
The most remarkable William and Mary period Oyster Kingwood Parquetry Inlaid Fall Front Escritoire attributed to Thomas Pistor.
The top of this piece has a shaped moulding above a flat moulded section and a cavetto moulding, leading to the convex frieze. (It will be noted that the grain runs through all of these mouldings.) The frieze also conceals a Bible or Plan drawer, above a cross banded and geometrically Oyster veneered Fall, which opens to reveal three sections of pigeon holes - all of which can be removed disclosing secret compartments - above a central door; the inlay of which conforms to the outside of the Fall and which opens to reveal four more drawers, and is surrounded with a further arrangement of small drawers. The Fall is fitted with a leather writing panel. The base has two half width and two full width graduated drawers, and the whole is raised on flat bun feet.
The sides are also exquisitely inlaid with geometric Oysters and cross banded to match the front.
The Escritoire is a piece of furniture inspired by continental examples during the Carolean period and early examples are usually to be found in oak. By the William and Mary period the finest pieces were executed in Burr Walnut. This example, being in Kingwood and so perfectly executed with the Oyster veneered Parquetry roundels and interspersed hearts could only have been made for one of the finest families in the country - possibly even for royalty. Kingwood was an exceptionally rare wood during this period, and to find an entire large cabinet veneered on both the outside and the inside in Kingwood Oysters of such quality makes it indeed one of the rarest and finest examples on record. The Escritoire as a piece of furniture would have been used for keeping valuables in and with the fall front open, acted in place of an Antique Desk in the middle of a room.
Attribution:
This exceptional piece is one from a family of cabinets all made by Thomas Pistor, who worked in London from about 1668 to 1706. We have been fortunate enough to have owned three of these pieces in the last 60 years. This is illustrated in Dr. Adam Bowett's book "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne " illus. 7.30, page 209. Bowett comments in his book that as Kingwood (Princeswood) was the most expensive and rarest exotic veneer available at the time, it was only ever used on the very best and most prized items.. The attribution of these extraordinary pieces is based on an article in Country Life 11th. August 1950, depicting Buxted Park, the home of Sir Basil Ionedes, and showing quite clearly a conforming parquetry inlaid Kingwood Escritoire and commenting that this bears the makers' label for Mr. Thomas Pistor, Ludgate Hill, London.
A major article on Thomas Pistor and his son, also Thomas, was published in the Journal of the Furniture History Society "Furniture History" in 2000, and was researched and written by Adriana Turpin. She rightly states that Pistor's work is on a par with the Royal Cabinetmakers, John Gumley and Gerrit Jensen. and indeed. all three worked for Colonel James Grahme who was a high ranking courtier to James II. See FHS Journal 2000, pp 43 to 60.
Lit: "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne ", Dr. Adam Bowett, illus. 7.30, page 209.
"Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840", Geoffrey Beard & Christopher Gilbert Page 701.
"Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 - 1840", Christopher Gilbert, Page 44.
"The London Furniture Makers from the Restoration to the Victorian Era 1660-1840", Sir Ambrose Heal. Page 138.
Circa 1690
H: 66½" (168 cms) W: 47" (119 cms) D: 21" (53 cms)
Price: £100,000 / US$ 152,000 / € 118,000
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The three Kingwood Cabinets shown together
No: 10283/398S/398T
A rare opportunity to see all three of the pieces attributed to Thomas Pistor in one go. Please refer to the individual pieces for the descriptions, prices and measurements and to purchase any or all of them. Which Antique Cabinet would suit your home?
Circa 1690
H: 65" (165 cms) W: 40" (101 cms) D: 19½" (49 cms)
Price: 0 / US$ 0 / € 0
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Kingwood Kneehole Desk by Pistor
No: 399 O
No: 399 0
A superb and extremely rare William and Mary Period Oyster Veneered Kingwood Kneehole Desk by Thomas Pistor of Ludgate Hill in London, the rectangular folding top with geometrically inlaid patterns of roundels and corner spandrels within crossbanded borders, and opening to reveal a fitted interior of five small drawers and a central space all above the kneehole with its conformingly inlaid door flanked by four further drawers to each side and raised on bun feet, the sides similarly inlaid and crossbanded. Ca. 1690
Attribution:
This exceptional piece is one from a family of cabinets all made by Thomas Pistor, who worked in London from about 1668 to 1706. We have been fortunate enough to have owned four of these pieces in the last 60 years. The first is that illustrated in Dr. Adam Bowett's book "English Furniture, 1660 - 1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne " illus. 7.30, page 209. Bowett comments in his book that as Kingwood ( Princeswood) was the most expensive and rarest exotic veneer available at the time, it was only ever used on the very best and most prized items. The piece shown is an escritoire and the second piece we acquired shortly after the first example was indeed a cabinet on chest, again by the same maker using the same patterns as the escritoire. There followed another Cabinet on Chest made to the same patterns and where the inscribed patterns on the inside of the backboards on the escritoire exactly match the geometric patterns on the doors of this Cabinet. The final piece of the jigsaw is this wonderful Kneehole Desk which again exactly matches the patterns of the other examples. The attribution of these extraordinary pieces is based on an article in Country Life 11th. August 1950, depicting Buxted Park, the home of Sir Basil Ionedes, and showing quite clearly a conforming parquetry inlaid Kingwood Escritoire and commenting that this bears the makers' label for Mr. Thomas Pistor, Ludgate Hill, London
A major article on Thomas Pistor and his son, also Thomas, was published in the Journal of the Furniture History Society "Furniture History" in 2000, and was researched and written by Adriana Turpin. She rightly states that Pistor's work is on a par with the Royal Cabinetmakers, John Gumley and Gerrit Jensen. and indeed. all three worked for Colonel James Grahme who was a high ranking courtier to James II. Sadly, we cannot trace for whom these pieces were made but the possibility exists of a Royal or near Royal provenance. See FHS Journal 2000, pp 43 to 60.
Circa 1690
H: 33" (83 cms) W: 42" (106 cms) D: 25½" (64 cms)
Price: £50,000 / US$ 76,000 / € 59,000
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Queen Anne Burr Walnut Bureau Bookcase
No: 399N
A superb Queen Anne period Burr Walnut Bureau Cabinet having a stepped, concave cornice above the two doors the top retaining the original bevelled mirror plates and fitted with adjustable shelves above a row of conforming drawers, the base with a particularly well fitted stepped concave interior to the bureau with a reading stand to the well, the whole feather banded throughout and raised on bracket feet.
Circa 1710
H: 83½" (212 cms) W: 40½" (102 cms) D: 24" (60 cms)
Price: £45,000 / US$ 68,400 / € 53,100
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George III Mahogany Gentleman's Secretaire Press
No: 398A
A superb early George III period Mahogany Secretaire Gentleman's Press with shaped cornice above a dentil frieze cavetto and fluted frieze with serpentine detail. The upper part with two panelled doors opening to reveal five sliding trays, the base with a fitted drawer containing twelve satinwood and tulipwood cross-banded small drawers above three further full width graduated drawers, the whole raised on sculpted trefoil shaped bracket feet.
Note: The serpentine detail on the cornice combined with the exquisitely panelled back, the shaping of the feet at the back and the dustboards between the drawers all point to a cabinet maker of exceptional ability. The s-shaped keyhole escutcheons are always associated with the work of Thomas Chippendale and would suggest his authorship of this piece too.
During the 18th. century not every room had space for Antique Desks taking up the centre of the room so pieces like this Antique Cabinet or Gentleman's Press as they were known were made with a secretaire drawer for writing at.
Circa 1775
H: 85½" (217 cms) W: 52½" (133 cms) D: 22½" (57 cms)
Price: £20,000 / US$ 30,400 / € 23,600
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George III Inlaid Mahogany Hanging Corner Cupboard
No: 10333
A beautiful George III Period Mahogany and Rosewood two door hanging Corner Cupboard with a fine dentil cornice above a tear drop frieze and with marquetry inlaid shells to the stiles above fluted and stop fluted flanking columns, the doors also with marquetry inlaid shells, the interior with shaped shelves.The beautifully figured Mahogany and fine inlays make this a very good Antique Cabinet.
Circa 1780
H: 42¾" (108 cms) W: 38" (96 cms) D: 19" (48 cms)
Price: £1,250 / US$ 1,900 / € 1,475
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George III Mahogany and Inlaid Hanging Corner Cabinet
No: 10332
A particularly good and well detailed George III Period Mahogany and Inlaid Hanging Corner Cabinet surmounted by a scrolled pediment with carved gilt paterae above a dentil cornice and a contrasting inlaid frieze, the panelled door opening onto three shaped shelves, the interior retaining the original green livery painted colour and the door flanked by inlaid pilasters. The combination of Swan-Neck Cormice, Dentil and Crossgrain Frieze with the Inlay flaking the door set this Antique Cabinet above most others.
Circa 1780
H: 49" (124 cms) W: 31½" (80 cms) D: 18½" (46 cms)
Price: £1,750 / US$ 2,660 / € 2,065
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George III Mahogany Commode
No: 9817
A pretty George III period mahogany commode with black and white line inlay to top and front, raised on splayed bracket feet united by a shaped apron.The lid is hinged to open upwards and the two dummy drawers are hinged forward and this has been converted to a bar.
Ca.1790
Circa 1790
H: 27" (68 cms) W: 23½" (59 cms) D: 18¾" (47 cms)
Price: £950 / US$ 1,444 / € 1,121
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George III Mahogany and Inlaid Gentleman's Dressing Table by Gillows of Lancaster
No: 10304
A particularly fine George III Period Mahogany Gentlemans Dressing Table by Gillows of Lancaster the divided shaped crossbanded top opening to reveal an adjustable rising sash mirror, bottle holders, a large moulded edge hole for a bowl and small holes for soap dishes etc. above a dummy drawer and a cupbard door to access the water jug, all above a pull out bidet formed as two dummy drawers on legs and still retaining the original white Wedgwood bidet.
This stunning piece is accompanied with a copy of pages from the Gillow's book of estimates in which the almost identical piece is shown and detailed. This is an excellent example of an Antique Cabinet with hidden uses.
Circa 1790
H: 36" (91 cms) W: 21" (53 cms) D: 22" (55 cms)
Price: £3,000 / US$ 4,560 / € 3,540
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A near Pair of George III Mahogany Bedside Cabinets
No: 10382
A near pair of George III Period Mahogany Bedside Cabinets, the galleried hinged top shelves above bowed fronts with moulded details and raised on legs.
Circa 1810
H: 30½" (77 cms) W: 23" (58 cms) D: 20" (50 cms)
Price: £5,750 / US$ 8,740 / € 6,785
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Regency Mahogany and Brass Serpentine Sideboard
No: 10361
A fine and small Regency Mahogany and Brass mounted serpentine fronted sideboard, the top with a rear brass Splash Rail above a central frieze drawer, flanked on one side by a further drawer above a cupboard door, the other side with a deep drawer and the whole raised on turned tapering reeded legs with brass collars, the drawers all crossbanded in Satinwood.
Circa 1810
H: 51" (129 cms) W: 52½" (133 cms) D: 27" (68 cms)
Price: £11,500 / US$ 17,480 / € 13,570
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Regency Rosewood Breakfront Chiffonier
No: 10343
A handsome Regency Period Rosewood Breakfront Side Cabinet/Chiffonier, the grey/green -flecked marble top with a moulded edge above four doors, the centre pair with elliptical brass grilles and silks, the flanking doors with Rosewood panels all flanked by flat pilasters with lotus leaf carved capitals and the whole raised on a plinth base, all the cupboards with shelves. Whether in the Hall, Drawing Room or Dining Room, this is a very useful Antique Cabinet to have.
Circa 1820
H: 38½" (97 cms) W: 66" (167 cms) D: 17" (43 cms)
Price: £6,500 / US$ 9,880 / € 7,670
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Superb Satinwood,Ormolu and Gilt Cabinet with Wedgwood Plaques
No: 400B
A superb Satinwood Breakfront Cabinet by Wright and Mansfield, designed by Crosse in the Adam Revival style. The galleried superstructure supported by four reeded gilt columns with carved gilt acanthus details above three frieze drawers with a central Wedgwood green jasperware plaque , the base with three cupboard doors each with a further Wedgwood plaque depicting Greek philosophers, cupids and winged figures and flanked by classical gilt reeded Doric Columns and raised on a plinth base. The whole piece is elaborately inlaid in harewood, boxwood and other stained woods in the neo-classical manner with bell-flowers, ribbons, swags and urns.
Wright and Mansfield were one of the most prominent of Victorian Furniture makers in England producing the very finest pieces in the Adam and Sheraton Revival styles. They were established at 184 New Bond Street between 1860 and 1886 and were described in "The Cabinetmaker and Art Furnisher" Vol. II as "... the leaders of that pleasing fashion which was happily brought back into our houses many of the charming shapes of the renowned 18th. century cabinet makers."
Their comparable medal winning cabinet exhibited at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867 was the only piece of British furniture to be awarded a Gold Medal. It was praised for the high quality of its materials and workmanship and seen as "very English" due to the use of Satinwood and Neo-classical decoration. It was acquired in 1868 by the Victoria and Albert Museum to show its visitors the difference between 18th. century furniture and nineteenth century reproduction pieces of the highest quality. The V&A Cabinet was designed by a Mr. Crosse of whom nothing further appears to be known.
The similarity between this cabinet and the V&A example is so striking with the same decorative motifs, timbers and identical Wedgwood plaques that a common authorship is not in doubt and there is the strong probability that the two pieces were made as part of a suite of furnishings.
Provenance: Holly Johnson Antiques, 2003, Private Collection.
Wright and Mansfield Alfred Thomas Wright first came to notice in 1856 as a junior partner in the firm of Samuel Hanson, a cabinetmaker and upholsterer trading from 16 John Street (later Great Portland Street), and 106 Oxford Street. The company was joined by George Needham Mansfield, son of the old established builders and decorators George Mansfield, of Grays Inn Lane and Wigmore Street, and the firm is recorded in Post Office journals as Hanson, Wright and Mansfield at the above addresses until 1861, when Hanson died. Thereafter the company traded as Wright and Mansfield, and swiftly rose to prominence after their exhibits at the 1862 International Exhibition held in London, on the site of what is now the Natural History Museum, South Kensington. Attended by over six million visitors, despite the death in 1861 of Prince Albert, and the absence of Queen Victoria, who was still in mourning. The Art Journal Catalogue of the International Exhibition, and J.B. Waring's ' Masterpieces of Industrial Art and Sculpture' of 1862 record their work, and two bookcases, and a fireplace constructed of 'Ginn' or 'Gean' wood, with inset Wedgwood plaques were illustrated, along with a piano, painted in the manner of George Brookshaw, and commented upon and favourably compared to the Eighteenth Century work of 'Adelphi' Adams.
The progress and incredible quality presented by the exhibitors occasioned Eugene Rouher, the prominent French statesman, after the exhibition to form a committee, taking as a premise ' the results of the Exposition prove, that if rapid progress is not made in France, we will quickly be outstripped by our rivals'. At the 1867 Paris Universelle Exposition, a remarkable satinwood, marquetry, bronze and Wedgwood mounted cabinet won a Gold medal, the only time such an honour was bestowed upon an English cabinet maker, by the judges, presided over by M. du Sommerard director of the Cluny Museum, and M Wilkinson, Administrator de Mobilier de la Courrone. The Gold medal was presented personally to Wright & Mansfield by the Emperor Napoleon the 3rd. The cabinet was purchased by the South Kensington Museum (later the Victoria and Albert Museum) for the extraordinary sum, in those days, of £800. It remains in their possession today. Their showing at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition attracted wide admiration, and was most favourably commented upon in the journals of the day
Circa 1867
H: 66½" (168 cms) W: 55¼" (140 cms) D: 25½" (64 cms)
Price: £50,000 / US$ 76,000 / € 59,000
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