A William and Mary walnut and seaweed marquetry cabinet on stand circa 1690, attributed to Gerrit Jensen

the upper section with a cushion frieze drawer, the pair of doors enclosing an arrangement of eleven drawers surrounding a central door with six further drawers to the interior

Good overall condition. Minor age cracks to veneers and cross-grain mouldings. Repolished finish. Handles and locks appear to be original. Some restoration to the doors to stabilise old cracks. The rear of the legs to the stand with metal brace re-enforcements. Good consistent colour. Minor 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. 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 inlay on the present cabinet has striking similarities with a group of seaweed marquetry furniture associated with the Royal cabinet-maker Gerrit Jensen.  This includes a kneehole desk with comparable decoration, in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, illustrated in Adam Bowett, English Furniture 1660-1714, From Charles II to Queen Anne, 2002, p. 189, pls. 6:23-6:24. A closely related cabinet on stand attributed to Jensen which shares the same form of scrolling legs and intricate seaweed marquetry is in the collection of the Dukes of Devonshire at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire illustrated ibid., p.200, pls. 7:9 and 7:10. The scheme of the marquetry on the Chatsworth cabinet is similarly arranged in dense panels of foliate scrolls and strapwork. However in contrast to the present example it is decorated with premier partie marquetry of dark inlay on a light ground of holly or sycamore. A further very similar cabinet with provenance from Cora, Countess of Stafford, is illustrated in Peter Brown ed., The Noel Terry Collection of Furniture and Clocks at Fairfax House, York, 1987, p. 40, no. 40. A walnut side table with legs and a stretcher of very similar form to the present cabinet is recorded in the Untermyer Collection and is illustrated in English Furniture with some furniture of other countries in the Irwin Untermyer Collection, London, 1958, pl.190 and also relates to a side table in the same collection, illus op.cit. pl.188-9.

Gerrit Jensen was one of the foremost cabinet-makers of his day who had served the English crown since the reign of Charles II and retained his royal appointment throughout the reign of Queen Anne, supplying furniture not only for St. James's Palace but also Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. In addition to the Royal family, Jensen also attracted commissions from senior members of the nobility, including the Dukes of Richmond, Devonshire, Hamilton, Montagu and Somerset, collaborating with other leading artists and craftsmen on the decoration of some of the greatest town and country houses in England. Possibly of Flemish or Dutch extraction, Jensen was one of several artist-craftsmen of foreign background employed at the English court, and his work shows a strong Continental influence, particularly that of France, earning him the sobriquet `the English Boulle'.