- 493
A George III satinwood and marquetry cylinder bureau circa 1780, attributed to Mayhew and Ince
Estimate
7,000 - 10,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- 167.5cm. high, 60cm. wide, 53cm. deep; 5ft. 6in. 1ft. 11 ¾in., 1ft. 9in.
the raised open shelf back and lower part with `chicken wire' sides
The present desk may firmly be atributed to the partnership of John Mayhew ( 1736-1811) and William Ince ( d. 1804), whose partnership was `one of the most significant, probably the longest lived, but as far as identified furniture is concerned, the least well documented of any of the major cabinet makers of the 18th century. ( See: Beard and Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, pp.589-598).
The history of the Mayhew and Ince partnership is well recorded largely as a consequence of legal action after Ince's death, brought against his former partner by his executors (cf. Pat Kirkham, `The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew 1759-1804', Furniture History Society, 1974, pp. 56-60). Following the celebrated success of Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (first pub. 1754) the firm published their Universal System of Household Furniture in 1762, although it had been serialized between July 1759 and August 1760. In the absence of much documented furniture, this publication has engendered academic interest in the firm's activities. Yet despite the richly Rococo, and half-Gothic, half-Chinese motifs that pervade The Universal System, the firm's known work has a neo-classical flavour, evident as early as 1760s and typified by the present lot.
The present desk relates to a cylinder desk attributed to Mayhew and Ince, formerly in the collection of Lady Sybil Grant, daughter of the 5th Earl of Rosebery ( sold Sotheby`s New York, 23rd September 1989 and later with Mallett , illustrated in the Mallett & Son`s catalogue The Age of Matthew Boulton: Masterpieces of Neo-Classicism, London 2000, pp.13-14) which has the same distinctive fish-tailed Wyvern seen on the front and back of the present lot. Another comparable desk is another tambour writing table t Syon Housewhich was almost certainly supplied to Queen Charlotte`s Lady of the Bedchamber, Elizabeth Duchess of Northumberland ( d.1776) by Ince and Mayhew, possibly originally for Northumberland House in the Strand ( see Ralph Edwards, The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1964, p.563, fig. 29). The urn motif on the front of the desk is almost identical to the urns on the side of the current lot.
The Wyvern motifs on the present lot also appear on a Pembroke table at Saltram which has connections with Ince and Mayhew and again on a commode illustrated in Lucy Wood op. cit. pl. 214
The present desk may firmly be atributed to the partnership of John Mayhew ( 1736-1811) and William Ince ( d. 1804), whose partnership was `one of the most significant, probably the longest lived, but as far as identified furniture is concerned, the least well documented of any of the major cabinet makers of the 18th century. ( See: Beard and Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, pp.589-598).
The history of the Mayhew and Ince partnership is well recorded largely as a consequence of legal action after Ince's death, brought against his former partner by his executors (cf. Pat Kirkham, `The Partnership of William Ince and John Mayhew 1759-1804', Furniture History Society, 1974, pp. 56-60). Following the celebrated success of Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director (first pub. 1754) the firm published their Universal System of Household Furniture in 1762, although it had been serialized between July 1759 and August 1760. In the absence of much documented furniture, this publication has engendered academic interest in the firm's activities. Yet despite the richly Rococo, and half-Gothic, half-Chinese motifs that pervade The Universal System, the firm's known work has a neo-classical flavour, evident as early as 1760s and typified by the present lot.
The present desk relates to a cylinder desk attributed to Mayhew and Ince, formerly in the collection of Lady Sybil Grant, daughter of the 5th Earl of Rosebery ( sold Sotheby`s New York, 23rd September 1989 and later with Mallett , illustrated in the Mallett & Son`s catalogue The Age of Matthew Boulton: Masterpieces of Neo-Classicism, London 2000, pp.13-14) which has the same distinctive fish-tailed Wyvern seen on the front and back of the present lot. Another comparable desk is another tambour writing table t Syon Housewhich was almost certainly supplied to Queen Charlotte`s Lady of the Bedchamber, Elizabeth Duchess of Northumberland ( d.1776) by Ince and Mayhew, possibly originally for Northumberland House in the Strand ( see Ralph Edwards, The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, London, 1964, p.563, fig. 29). The urn motif on the front of the desk is almost identical to the urns on the side of the current lot.
The Wyvern motifs on the present lot also appear on a Pembroke table at Saltram which has connections with Ince and Mayhew and again on a commode illustrated in Lucy Wood op. cit. pl. 214
Provenance
Anonymous sale Christie`s London, 27th November 1980, lot 108.
Literature
Illustrated in Lucy Wood, The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1980, p.230.
Condition
Good overall condition. Some warping to the back where superstructure joins the bueau section and some warping around frieze drawer. Lock above drawer later. Minor veneer chips to edges of frieze drawer. General minor old marks and scratches. Chicken wire replaced relatively recently
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."