A George III figured mahogany linen press circa 1750

in the manner of Giles Grendey, the moulded cornice above a pair of doors with shaped panels enclosing sliding trays, the lower part with two short and two long drawers, on bracket feet

Sotheby's London, Important English Furniture 7th July 1995, sold £10,000.

Very good general condition and ready to pace. Well figured and of good colour and patina. Some old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. The cornice has been poorly glued together and should be re-glued. This can easily be done.
"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 linen press is of a quality and a design associated with distinguished  London cabinet maker, Giles Grendey. Grendey established his workshop at St. Paul`s Covent Garden by 1720 and moved to premises in St. John`s Square, Clerkenwell, just over two years later. Unusual among English cabinet makers of this period, he seems to have developed a thriving export trade, for when fire struck his premises on the morning of 3rd August 1731, over one thousand pounds worth of furniture 'pack'd for Exportation against the next morning' was destroyed. Indeed, his most famous commission came from a Spanish client, the Duke of Infantado, in northern Spain to whom Grendey supplied a seventy-two piece suite of scarlet japanned seat and cabinet furniture between 1735-40, some of which is now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum London and Temple Newsam Museum, Leeds. The present cabinet with its well-chosen figured veneers and fine quality oak drawer linings is typical of Grendey`s oeuvre. The unusally shaped panels in the doors also relate to other piece known to be by him. For comparison see Christopher Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700-1840, 1996,, pl. 432, 433 and 447.

Another possible maker is Henry Kettle. Kettle was also known for producing mahogany furniture of the period of the present cabinet to a very high standard. He is listed at St Paul`s Churchyard, London as a cabinet maker, upholder and undertaker ( c. 1773- 97). He originally went into partnership about 1770 with William Henshaw who had been established at St. Paul`s Churchyard since at least 1754 when he took over the business of Philip Bell. A linen press also of very similar form to the present example is illustrated in Christopher Gilbert, op. cit., pl.546. This example forms part of the collection of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.