A George II red and gilt japanned bureau cabinet circa 1730, attributed to John Belchier

the arched pediment surmounted by carved giltwood flame and floral motifs flanking a rocaille cartouche, the pair of bevelled glazed doors revealing a fitted interior of pigeonholes, folio divisions and small drawers surrounding a pair of doors between a pair of fluted column drawers, the bureau fall headed by a pair of candle slides and enclosing a further arrangement of small drawers and pigeonholes flanking fluted column drawers and a small mirror panel door above a sliding well panel, the lower part with two short and two long graduated drawers with rocaille carved cabriole bracket feet

Good overall condition with some restoration. Age crack to the fall flap enclosing the bureau section. The feet associated and possibly part of the cresting. However it is possible this was carried out shortly after the cabinet was originally supplied due the recipient's particular requirements for the piece to harmonise with continental taste in furniture. Typical refreshing to the decoration, mainly to the red ground.
"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."

The present bureau cabinet closely compares with a small group of  related japanned cabinets attributed to the London maker, John Belchier of `The Sun', St Paul's Churchyard. These include a red japanned example with double domed cornice, supplied to John Meller (d. 1733) by Belchier circa 1725 for the `Blew Mohair Room' at Erddig Castle, Denbighshire (see The National Trust, Erddig, 1999, p. 71 and M. Drury, `Early 18th Century Furniture at Erddig', Apollo, vol. CVIII, July 1978, p. 52, pl. II) , and a blue japanned double domed cabinet with provenance from the Counts Hamilton, Overholme Castle, Sweden, sold Christie's London, 30 November 2000, lot 50. `The Duke of Windsor Cabinet' is a further piece in the group which bears the distinction of sharing the same configuration of cornice. It is interesting to note that the few documented cabinets retaining Belchier's original label are all bureau-cabinets, either finished with red japanning or veneered in walnut. In all instances they are fitted with mirror inset doors (see G. Beard and C. Gilbert eds., The Dictionary of English Furniture-Makers, 1660-1840, 1986, pp. 59-60). Based on analysis of Belchier's documented furniture, it appears that there are aspects of his japanned bureau cabinets that can be distinguished from other contemporary practitioners of this technique such as Giles Grendey. These comprise a more elaborate decoration to areas on the front of the cabinet such as the flap and drawers in contrast to the sides and interior and large figures to the inside of the upper section doors. In addition to this, the scheme of decoration to the drawers appears not to account for the positioning of the handles and escutcheons.

However the offered lot features a gilt cartouche, pediment decoration and feet which are not paralleled on any cabinet-work associated with Belchier. This suggests that the possibility that this cabinet was customised at the time of manufacture to the requirements of a continental client or adapted shortly after delivery for similar reasons.

John Belchier is recorded as trading at The Sun, on the south side of St. Paul's Churchyard in 1717 until his death in 1753 at the age of seventy. A trade label on the reverse of a burr walnut bureau cabinet sold in these rooms, 14 November 1980, lot 30 is headed by his shop sign, an ornamental sun, and states that Belchier was a maker of 'fine Peer and Chimney-Glasses, and Glass Sconces, Likewise all Cabbinet Makers Goods.'

Belchier whose name is thought to reflect Huguenot origins, was possibly the son of another important craftsman of the same name, who may well be the tradesman who worked extensively for Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu, at Boughton House, Northamptonshire, during the latter part of the 17th century. John Belchier, the younger, received his most significant commission from John Meller at Erddig, Wales, for whom he produced together with other items, a celebrated suite of gilt and silvered gesso furniture during the 1720s. In the 1730s he also carried out important work for the Purefoy family at Shalston, Buckinghamshire. In addition to cabinet-work, Belchier manufactured mirrored and clear glass including a quantity supplied for St. Paul's Cathedral in the 1720s. It is therefore probable that he produced the glass for his own furniture.