Description
A fine Charles II period (1630-1685) oyster olivewood and walnut marquetry cabinet on stand, of good rich colour. Ca 1680.
Superbly inlaid with oyster veneers, the doors centred with impressive ovals of floral marquetry issuing from urns. The oval panels are on a tulipwood ground.
The doors opening to reveal fitted drawers surrounding a central cupboard which in turn opens to reveal further short drawers.
Raised on restored barley sugar twist legs united by shaped stretchers and bun feet.
Nb. This fine and rare late 17th century English cabinet would have been hugely costly at the time, and very much the reserve of the rich, the aristocracy and the Royalty.
This exceptional antique cabinet’s marquetry work was without doubt executed by a master cabinet-maker. For closely related marquetry panels see ‘The Balfour Desk’, French & Co.* ‘Magnificent French and English Furniture’, Christies, NY, 24 Nov 1998, lot 40.
The superb flower filled urns on our cabinet show a striking similarity to the marquetry panels on this magnificent desk. The Balfour Desk marquetry is attributed to Aubertin Gaudron who supplied the Garde-Meuble Royal between 1686 and 1713. Many Huguenot refugees from France around this time worked in London.
The marquetry on our cabinet would have been executed by one of these master craftsmen for the English market.
*French & Co. were established in New York in 1840, and were that city’s oldest established antique dealers.
A similar cabinet to ours was sold at the Tom Devenish, NY, sale of ‘Highly Important English Furniture’, 24th April 2008 @ £57,800.00.
Further refs:
‘The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture’, Ralph Edwards CBE FSA, Hamlyn Publ, London, fourth impression 1972, p. 92, ill.5 & p. 93, ill.7.
H. Cescinsly & E.R. Gribble, Early English Furniture and Woodwork, pp. 260 & 261.
H. Cescinsky, English Furniture from Gothic to Sheraton, pp. 129 & 135.
H. Cescinsky, English Furniture of the 18th Century, pp. 96-97.
Adam Bowett, ‘English Furniture from Charles II to Queen Anne’, pp. 57-59.
