A GEORGE III PADOUK, HOLLY AND EBONY INLAID MAHOGANY CHEST ON CHEST CIRCA 1760

in two parts, the cornice with bead-and-reel molding, gadrooning and dentillated, the canted corners with pilasters inlaid with holly and ebony to simulate stop-fluting continuing to a fielded panel herringbone-inlaid base, the lower section fitted with three graduated long drawers on fully carved bracket feet.

Overall very good restored condition, beautiful color and timber, beautiful and unusual carving to cornice, age cracks to sides of both sections, repairs to feet, replacements to back feet, slight bowing to drawers.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present lot belongs to a group of very similar chests on chests, with highly figured mahogany veneers and exotic wood inlay, a molded cornice with outset square corners, bead-and-reel carving above dentil-moldings, the canted corners stiles fluted or stop-fluted above rectangular fielded panels; see Sotheby's, London, July 7, 1995, lot 47, Sotheby's, New York, April 13, 1996, lot 419, Sotheby's, London, July 5, 1996, lot 39 and Sotheby's, New York, The Arthingworth Collection, December 12, 1996, lot 166.  Most contain three short drawers over four long drawers to the upper section and three or four long drawers to the lower section.  The chest on chest from Arthingworth and the present lot, which appear to be of the finest quality, share the same drawer configuration, two short over four long drawers to the upper section and three drawers to the lower section.

The backplates of cast ribbon-tied circular wreaths with petals are similar to a design published in an anonymous 18^th century English brass founders' book; see Theodore Crom, An Eighteenth Century English Brass Hardware Catalogue, 1994, no. 534; the pierced interlaced handle cast with flowerheads is similar to no. 1438, op. cit., and the escutcheons similar to nos. 1497 and 1498.