A George III gilt-lacquered-brass mounted mahogany and ebony strung bombé commode, circa 1770, attributed to Pierre Langlois

the quarter veneered top above two cupboard doors enclosing an interior fitted with an arrangement of three short drawers to the right side and a removable shelf to the left, restorations

Most probably John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire (1723-1793) for Bickling Hall, Norfolk.
Supplied to the family of the current vendors by the renowned furniture historian R.W. Symonds in 1942.

This imposing commode is in overall good restored condition and it is ready to place. The surface has been re-polished and would likely vastly improve with the removal of the hard polish surface and application of a wax finish. The sides formerly with handles which are denoted by two small patches to each return. There has been some probable alteration to the configuration of the interior. It would however seem probable that the drawers are original but the evidence of recesses for the shelves would suggest some alternative arrangement at some point in its history. There are minor losses to the edge of apron and slight cracks to veneers above the legs and small replacements to the feet. Generally with minor old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. Lovely quality mounts which are original and not apparently cleaned or re-gilt.
"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."

This gilt-brass mounted bombé commode is conceived in the ‘French’ taste so popular in the 1760s and can be attributed to the workshop of émigré ébéniste Pierre Langlois (d. 1765) of Tottenham Court Road.  Comparatively little was known of Langlois’ oeuvre before Peter Thornton and William Rieder's ground-breaking series of articles published in The Connoisseur throughout the early 1970s. A particular hallmark of the present commode that supports a Langlois attribution is the distinctive asymmetrical foliate mount to the apron which features on a number of commodes ascribed to Langlois' workshop, including the exceptional Castle Howard commode sold Sotheby’s London, Important English Furniture, 29 November 2002, lot 53 (£150,000). It is conceivable that the mounts were supplied by his son-in-law, the bronzier Dominique Jean, with whom he shared premises at 39 Tottenham Court Road (G. Beard and C. Gilbert, The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 526). Jean is known to have supplied mounts to other leading cabinet-makers including Christopher Fuhrlohg (active 1762–1787). For a related pair of commodes by Langlois, with similar gilt-brass border mounts to the cupboard doors, see the Dundas commodes sold Christie’s London, Important English Furniture, 3 July 1997, lot 102.

This commode was formerly at Bickling Hall, a grand Jacobean house built by Sir Henry Hobart in 1616 on the sight of an earlier house that had been in the Boleyn family. The commode was most likely commissioned by John, 2nd Earl Of Buckinghamshire who succeeded his father to the Earldom in 1756. He was Comptroller to the Household and Lord of the Bedchamber to George II, and George III's Ambassador to Russia and later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He died without male heir and so the house passed to his eldest daughter Harriet who married the 6th Marquess of Lothian in whose family it remained until the given to the national Trust on the death of 11th Marquess in 1940. There is a 1930 Country Life article on Bickling in which the photographs show a number of similar, French style gilt-mounted commodes though the current lot cannot be identified.

The commode was supplied to the family of the current owners by the renowned furniture historian R.W. Symonds. Trained as an architect, Symonds worked in his early career as partner to Robert Lutyens, son of Sir Edwin. He advised many of the great collectors of English furniture in the early 20th century such as Percival Griffiths and wrote extensively on English furniture from the late seventeenth century through the 'golden years' of English cabinet-making to the later decades of the eighteenth century. His archive was acquired by the Winterthur Library upon his death in 1959.