A Regency gilt-metal-mounted, parcel-gilt and rosewood secretaire cabinet attributed to John McLean circa 1810

the superstructure with two shelves, the upper one with a pierced brass gallery, and each supported by brass columns with vase finials, the ends sides with geometrically pierced brass panels, the back with mirror plates, the lower part with a secretaire drawer mounted with swags of foliage and flowers suspended from lion mask drop-ring handles, opening to a blue leather-lined writing surface and fitted with small drawers and pigeon holes, the stiles with gilt-metal caryatid figures, the two oval paneled doors below with gilt-metal leaf tip moldings opening to an interior with a shelf, the flanking pilasters similarly mounted and with lion masks and pendant flowers and leaves, the giltwood moldings to the base carved with flower heads and overlapping leaves, and supported on turned toes with gadrooned collars.

Desmond Fitzgerald, Georgian Furniture, Victoria and Albert Museum, 1969, No. 140

Simon Redburn, "John Mclean & Son," Furniture History 1978, The Journal of the Furniture History Society, Vol. XIV, pp. 31-36, ill. pl. 33A

Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, pp. 567-568

Overall restored condition, the superstructure with age crack to middle shelf, the lower section with slightly bowing to top and with bowing to oval panel of right cupboard door, leather lined-writing surface with wear, scratches and stains, areas of over-gilding to gilt-wood with minor chips and wear, overall with some old marks and scratches.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This neatly executed and finely mounted secretaire cabinet epitomizes the early work of the London cabinetmakers John McLean and Son (1770-1825). First recorded in Little Newport Street, Leicester Square, his trade card describing him as a 'Cabinet, Chair Maker and UPHOLDER' and illustrating a ladies' dressing table in the French taste. By 1790 the firm had moved to Upper Marylebone Street remaining at this address until its demise in 1825, although other addresses at Pancras Street and Upper Terrace in the vicinity of Tottenham Court Road are recorded. The firm used a number of trade labels throughout its career which were attached to their work, allowing positive attributions to be made to unlabeled pieces such as the present cabinet, which is virtually identical to a cabinet in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. This bears a label inscribed 'Manufactured and Sold by/John McLean and Son,/53, Upper Mary-le-bone-Street,/The end of Howland Street, Portland Place,' which was apparently in use after 1805.

Much of McLean's known work is conceived in a similar manner to the present piece, being veneered in richly figured rosewood veneers and ornamented with gilt-bronze mounts, their overall design exhibiting the influence of contemporary French furniture. In fact, McLean actually announced in The Times of January 31, 1806 that the firm 'have re-opened their Warerooms with a new and elegant assemblage of Parisian furniture,' further advertising on February 11, 1811 that they wished to 'acquaint the Nobility, gentry and Public in general, they have in their Ware rooms a new and elegant assortment of every article of useful and ornamental furniture...Which being the production of their own manufactory, they are able to offer on terms most advantageous: bedding of every description: pier and Chimney glasses, carpeting &c.' 

The extensive range of the firm's wares is illustrated by an extensive account they rendered to George Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey and his wife, Lady Sarah Fane, heiress of Robert Childe, owner of Osterley Park, for the furnishing of their new house, Middleton Park, Oxfordshire. Covering the period between July 1806 and April 1807, the account totaled £4,793. 11s. 10d., and included the making and supplying of furniture, hangings, carpets, wallpaper, and window curtains for the bedrooms and principal reception rooms. Attached to this account was a further list of furniture supplied to the Earl's London residence in Berkeley Square, which included 'a Rosewood Pier Table...elegantly mounted in ormolu' and 'A Rosewood round library writing table elegantly mounted with ormolu mouldings.' No other commissions appear to be recorded, although there are unlabeled pieces at Harewood House, Grimsthorpe Castle, and Saltram, Devon.

Unusually, McLean's firm is mentioned in Thomas Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, 1803, a design for a pouch work table illustrated on p. 292 being 'taken from one executed by Mr. M'Lean in Mary-le-bone street, near Tottenham court Road, who finishes these small articles in the neatest manner.' However, it is obvious from his labeled pieces that the quality of his workmanship deteriorated at some time after 1815, the designs of his furniture being heavier, although derivative of his earlier styles; similarly his metal mounts became less well cast. This was possibly due to increasing financial problems, which included his son and partner William being 'Bankrupt in Prison' in 1822, and who 'Died so poor that his body was sent in a box by wagon into the country to relations.'