A fine George III inlaid satinwood secretaire, by Thomas Blades & Son CIRCA 1800

one inside drawer with paper label MANUFACTUR'D / and SOLD by / BLADES & SON / at their WAREHOUSE / 177 / PICCADILLY / nearly opposite / BOND STREET.

Cf. Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert, Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840, 1986, p. 78; archives of the Furniture & Woodwork Department, Victoria and Albert Musueum.

A related secretaire veneered with harewood and satinwood, fromerly in the collection of Leopold Hirsch, is illustrated in Ralph Edwards The Dictionary of English Furniture, 1983, p. 156, fig. 75.

In good restored condition; the superstructure with minor warpage to the panels with subsequent repaired age cracks, the brass plate rails probably later; the molding to the top adjacent to the superstructure with small chip and with replaced section to the left side; the secretaire drawer front with minor warpage, the interior with later leather lined writing surface and with minor warpage to the drawer fronts of small drawers; some shrinkage and warpage to the doors with subsequent age crack to the central panel of the left door as can be seen in the catalogue illustration; some of the feet re-glued and with some minor inpaiting, overall with small replacements to the veneers, stringing and crossbandings with some old marks, scratches and minor bruises.
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.

Thomas Blades is first recorded in 1774, trading as a cabinet-maker and upholsterer from premises in St. James's Market, adjoining St. James's Square.  By 1784 he had transferred his business to 114 Jermyn Street, subsequently taking additional premisies at 177 Piccadilly, where he is first recoreded in 1792.  By 1799 Blades was working in partnership with his son, and in 1803 the firm was joined by another cabinet-maker, Palmer, continuing to trade as Blades & Palmer until at least 1822.  The label on the present secretaire would indicate that it dates from between 1799 and 1803 and was produced and sold from the firm's establishment in Piccadilly.  A subscriber to Thomas Sheraton's Drawing Book of 1793, Blades was cited by Sheraton in his list of master cabinet-makers published in 1803.  It is possible that a link exists with the celebrated London glass manufacturer John Blades.