A GEORGE III GILT-LACQUERED, BRASS-MOUNTED SYCAMORE, KINGWOOD AND MARQUETRY SECRETAIRE COMMODE

The marquetry and ormolu mounts on this commode place it in a distinct group of English furniture that are clearly inspired by French designs. Pierre Langlois (d.1767), a French cabinet-maker who established his London workshop in 1759, was the first to introduce this style. It was soon emulated by his English contemporaries who relied on specialist marqueteurs to supply the more elaborate inlaid panels like the basket of fruit on the top of this commode. Interestingly, a pair of tables and a commode attributed to John Cobb (d. 1778), one of the principal cabinet-makers known to have worked in this style, have related oval panels of fruit (C. Streeter “Marquetry Tables from Cobb’s Workshop,” Furniture History, London, 1974, Vol X, pp.52-3, plates 28a, 29a). Two related commodes with overall trellis marquetry include one supplied to the 2nd Duke of Newcastle for Clumber Park sold at Christie’s, London, 7 June 2007, lot 46 and another from the Legend of Dick Turpin Part I, sold at Christie’s, London, 9 March 2006, lot 152.