William & Mary oyster laburnum and walnut chest

William & Mary period oyster laburnum and walnut inlaid chest of drawers. Ca 1690.

37” w
33” h
22” d.


This item is now sold

Description

A late 17th century chest of drawers in well-figured, concentric radiating oyster veneers with holly and walnut inlays.
Of excellent colour and patination. Superb condition throughout.

Two short and three long drawers all pine-faced with oak linings.
Carcass is in pine. The sides are oyster veneered with holly roundels.
Locks are original. Escutcheons and handles are period but slightly later.
Bun feet historically replaced to fit their original location. The cross-grain D mouldings applied to the drawer dividers are clearly indicative of the period.

Ref:
Ralph Edwards CBE FSA notes two chests of the same period in ’The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture’ Hamlyn, London (Fourth Impression 1972) p. 202, illustr. 14 (Bourne Park, Kent) & illustr. 16 (J. Thursby Pelham Collection).

Christie’s sold a very similar William and Mary period chest @ £18,750 “with restorations and replacements”, 21 January 2010, lot 26.
Clevedon Salerooms sold a similar antique oyster walnut chest, but “originally on a stand”, for £23,600 plus 15% premium, on September 2nd, 2000.

William and Mary style –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_and_Mary_style