A PAIR OF DUTCH POLYCHROME-DECORATED AND KINGWOOD DEMI-LUNE CONSOLE TABLES

Matthijs Horrix, of German origin, was admitted to the Hague guild as 'Mr. Kabinetwerker' in 1764. As the most prominent representative of 'French' cabinetmaking, Horrix rapidly became the Hague's most successful furniture-maker, which gained him prestigious commissions from the Stadholder's court early on in his career. Following the marriage in 1767 of Stadholder Prince William V and Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia, several of the Royal residences were modernised and refurbished. It was Horrix who received the prestigious commission to provide the Stadholder's quarters with 'Commodes, Tables etc' for which he was paid 1515 florins. The records of items supplied to the Court establish that Princess Wilhelmina in particular admired Horrix's furniture virtually all her yearly private accounts show evidence of deliveries of Horrix's luxurious marquetry furniture.
An almost identical pair of consoles to the present lot can be found in the 'Chinese Kamer' at the Dutch royal palace, Huis ten Bosch, the Hague (illustrated in R.J. Baarsen, 'In de commode van Parijs tot Den Haag', Oud Holland, vol. 107, 1993, no. 2, p. 173, no. 4).