A GEORGE III MAHOGANY AND EBONISED SERPENTINE COMMODE

This elegant commode is designed in the George III 'picturesque' fashion, and evolved from 'French Commode Table' patterns in Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754 (pls. XLIII and XLV). It has distinct stylistic and constructional features that appear in a group of commodes that are among both the documented and attributed work of Henry Hill of Marlborough, Wiltshire, who was active as a cabinet-maker from circa 1740 until his death in 1778. The fine, book-matched veneers, distinctive scalloped apron and the ebonised mouldings appear on several commodes in the Lady Lever Art Gallery attributed to Hill and discussed by L. Wood in Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, no. 4, pp. 64-73. Some, including the present lot, also share identical constructional features such as the use of pine-bottomed drawers covered with blue lining paper as well as the more unusual continuation of the cockbeading on the drawer sides to cover the dovetails (op. cit., p. 66, fig. VI).

Though Hill's furniture commissions were largely from Wiltshire families, they were among some of the most sophisticated patrons of the era. Payments amounting to £227.10s.3d from the 9th Duke of Somerset in 1770-71 could have included the marquetry commode supplied for Maiden Bradley (ibid, p. 71, fig. 55) as well as a practically identical example attributed to Hill and sold by the 9th Duke's descendents at Christie's, London, 28 November, lot 120. Paul Methuen of Corsham Court was another patron whose purchases from 1764 and 1771 included 2 Mahogany French Commodes banded with Rose Wood and wrought brass Corners a £13 13s.' (L. Wood, "Furniture for Lord Delaval,", Furniture History, 1993, p. 206). The most documented commissions were for Sir John, later Lord Delaval, who was also a patron of the royal cabinet-marker John Cobb. Delaval was unique in that his commissions were for his London house. Correspondence between Hill and Delaval includes three separate proposals, which outline specific options for commodes and most likely had design sketches. Further correspondence and banking records show that two proposals resulted in specific commissions for two commodes as well as two wardrobes delivered in November and December 1776 which have as yet to be identified (ibid, pp.203-4).

Commodes of closely related form that can confidently be attributed to Hill include one sold from the collection of Sir Ralph and Lady Halpern, Christie's London, 24 February 2005, lot 194 (£19,200 including premium), another sold anonymously Christie's New York, 21/22 October 2010, lot 10 ($64,900 including premium), and another of sabicu and marquetry, sold anonymously Christie's, London, 22 May 2014, lot 1156 (£37,500 including premium).