Lot

19

A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed &

In Fine Furniture & Objects

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A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 1 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 2 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 3 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 4 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 5 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 6 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 7 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 8 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 9 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 10 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 1 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 2 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 3 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 4 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 5 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 6 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 7 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 8 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 9 of 10
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & - Image 10 of 10
Auctioneer has chosen not to publish the price of this lot
Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & Woster.

The broken arched moulded pediment with later gilt flame finial, above a pair of bevelled mirrored doors enclosing a central concave double door enclosing three small drawers; flanked by turned pilasters, eight shaped folio divisions and ten small short drawers, with nine arcaded pigeonholes above six short drawers below, above a pair of candleslides, the sloping fall with moulded rest enclosing a gilt tooled leather fall enclosing a pair of concave central cupboard doors enclosing three short drawers, flanked by a pair of sprung 'secret' columnar drawers, six pigeonholes and two arcaded drawers, with fleur-de-lys fret divisions, above a sliding well; the lower part with two short and two long graduated drawers, with undulating apron, on later bun feet, 100cm wide, 60cm deep, 237cm high.

Provenance:
Purchased from Frank Partridge, 1 August 2009.
Bequeathed to the current owner.

Between 1698 and 1711 the bureau bookcase or desk-and-bookcase emerged. In 1716 the cabinet-maker and looking-glass manufacturer, John Gumley supplied ‘a Wallnnuttree Desk & Bookcase with a glass Door’  for the Princess’s Dressing Room at St James’s Palace (see A.Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714, From Charles II to Queen Anne, p.220). 

Bowett illustrates a japanned desk-and-bookcase (fig 7:53) by W. Price, dated 1713 which is the earliest recorded example showing the rapid progression of the bureau bookcase from the type with an overhanging bureau, to a neater more stable version where the bookcase fits into the moulding on the top of the bureau. It also is the first time candle slides are in evidence and is the earliest documented example of its type with a double-dome cornice. The Price example shows the appearance of a waist moulding, being an example of the more unusual form of the three part bureau bookcase (as in the above lot). The moulding serves as a way to position the desk section into the lower drawer part. This form of three part bureau bookcase can be seen up until the 1730s, it was traditionally thought to have reflected an earlier date. It has been suggested, even though it was more expensive, the three part desk-and-bookcase was produced because it allowed different workmen to construct the parts simultaneously, which was a more efficient method of production. 

In Early Georgian Furniture, Bowett discusses and  illustrates the development of the raised rebated drawer bottom with slips on four sides. Dating from 1720 to 1730 and used in the construction of the above lot, it was a sophisticated and time-consuming method of drawer construction which indicates high quality manufacture, where the cabinet-maker was concerned with quality rather than cost.

This bureau bookcase relates to various examples of this popular form of furniture produced by a number of cabinet makers working in St Paul’s Churchyard in the early 1700s. Surviving pieces from the firm of Coxed & Woster at the White Swan against the South-Gate in St Paul’s Churchyard provide good comparables, they were known to produce and sell:

‘Cabinets, Scutoires, Desks and Book-Cases, Buro’s Chests of Drawers, Wisk, Ombre, Dutch and Indian Tea-Tables; All sort of Looking Glasses, Large Sconces, Dressing Sets and Wainscot-Work of all sorts, at Reasonable Rates. Old Glasses New polished and Made up fashionable’ (see G.Beard & C.Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840,p.205).

Several labelled examples exist and are fully discussed in A.Bowett & L.Lindey, Labelled Furniture from the White Swan Workshop in St.Paul’s Churchyard (1711-1735), Furniture History, 2003, pp.71-98. Figure 22 illustrates a labelled Coxed and Woster walnut bureau bookcase of the 1730-35 period with similar carcase mounted cockbeading, moulded waist and double panels on the fall and on the long drawer fronts. (See also R.Edwards & M.Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, fig 157 where it was stated as being with M.Harris & Sons). Figure 10 illustrates a desk-and-bookcase of c.1715-1718, labelled by John Coxed with very closely related shaped door mouldings.

The Chinese type engraved gilt brass decorative strapwork hinges seen on the above lot can be found on various desk-and-bookcases of this period of the japanned and walnut variety and on labelled stained burr maple Coxed and Woster examples ranging from the 1720-1730 period (see Bowett & Lindey, figs 15-17).

A fine George I walnut, crossbanded and featherbanded bureau bookcase in the manner of Coxed & Woster.

The broken arched moulded pediment with later gilt flame finial, above a pair of bevelled mirrored doors enclosing a central concave double door enclosing three small drawers; flanked by turned pilasters, eight shaped folio divisions and ten small short drawers, with nine arcaded pigeonholes above six short drawers below, above a pair of candleslides, the sloping fall with moulded rest enclosing a gilt tooled leather fall enclosing a pair of concave central cupboard doors enclosing three short drawers, flanked by a pair of sprung 'secret' columnar drawers, six pigeonholes and two arcaded drawers, with fleur-de-lys fret divisions, above a sliding well; the lower part with two short and two long graduated drawers, with undulating apron, on later bun feet, 100cm wide, 60cm deep, 237cm high.

Provenance:
Purchased from Frank Partridge, 1 August 2009.
Bequeathed to the current owner.

Between 1698 and 1711 the bureau bookcase or desk-and-bookcase emerged. In 1716 the cabinet-maker and looking-glass manufacturer, John Gumley supplied ‘a Wallnnuttree Desk & Bookcase with a glass Door’  for the Princess’s Dressing Room at St James’s Palace (see A.Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714, From Charles II to Queen Anne, p.220). 

Bowett illustrates a japanned desk-and-bookcase (fig 7:53) by W. Price, dated 1713 which is the earliest recorded example showing the rapid progression of the bureau bookcase from the type with an overhanging bureau, to a neater more stable version where the bookcase fits into the moulding on the top of the bureau. It also is the first time candle slides are in evidence and is the earliest documented example of its type with a double-dome cornice. The Price example shows the appearance of a waist moulding, being an example of the more unusual form of the three part bureau bookcase (as in the above lot). The moulding serves as a way to position the desk section into the lower drawer part. This form of three part bureau bookcase can be seen up until the 1730s, it was traditionally thought to have reflected an earlier date. It has been suggested, even though it was more expensive, the three part desk-and-bookcase was produced because it allowed different workmen to construct the parts simultaneously, which was a more efficient method of production. 

In Early Georgian Furniture, Bowett discusses and  illustrates the development of the raised rebated drawer bottom with slips on four sides. Dating from 1720 to 1730 and used in the construction of the above lot, it was a sophisticated and time-consuming method of drawer construction which indicates high quality manufacture, where the cabinet-maker was concerned with quality rather than cost.

This bureau bookcase relates to various examples of this popular form of furniture produced by a number of cabinet makers working in St Paul’s Churchyard in the early 1700s. Surviving pieces from the firm of Coxed & Woster at the White Swan against the South-Gate in St Paul’s Churchyard provide good comparables, they were known to produce and sell:

‘Cabinets, Scutoires, Desks and Book-Cases, Buro’s Chests of Drawers, Wisk, Ombre, Dutch and Indian Tea-Tables; All sort of Looking Glasses, Large Sconces, Dressing Sets and Wainscot-Work of all sorts, at Reasonable Rates. Old Glasses New polished and Made up fashionable’ (see G.Beard & C.Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840,p.205).

Several labelled examples exist and are fully discussed in A.Bowett & L.Lindey, Labelled Furniture from the White Swan Workshop in St.Paul’s Churchyard (1711-1735), Furniture History, 2003, pp.71-98. Figure 22 illustrates a labelled Coxed and Woster walnut bureau bookcase of the 1730-35 period with similar carcase mounted cockbeading, moulded waist and double panels on the fall and on the long drawer fronts. (See also R.Edwards & M.Jourdain, Georgian Cabinet-Makers, fig 157 where it was stated as being with M.Harris & Sons). Figure 10 illustrates a desk-and-bookcase of c.1715-1718, labelled by John Coxed with very closely related shaped door mouldings.

The Chinese type engraved gilt brass decorative strapwork hinges seen on the above lot can be found on various desk-and-bookcases of this period of the japanned and walnut variety and on labelled stained burr maple Coxed and Woster examples ranging from the 1720-1730 period (see Bowett & Lindey, figs 15-17).

Fine Furniture & Objects

Sale Date(s)
Lots: 155
Venue Address
Moor Park Mansion
Rickmansworth
Hertfordshire
WD3 1QN
United Kingdom

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Viewing is available at Moor Park Mansion, a Grade I Listed Palladian Mansion, as follows:

Saturday 15 October 2016 10am-4pm
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Moor Park is served by Metropolitan Line tube stations at both Moor Park and Rickmansworth (followed by a short taxi-cab ride) and is only 22 miles from Central London. Plenty of on-site car parking is available, with easy access from the M25, M40 and M1.

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