A GEORGE III MAHOGANY SERPENTINE-FRONTED COMMODE IN THE MANNER OF HENRY HILL OF MARLBOROUGH CIRCA 1770

Restored.

Overall good restored condition, the top with some minor shrinkage to veneers and minor rippling with small veneer patch to front, some shrinkage to veneers overall with some minor stress tears on side panels and to drawer fronts with some small veneer patches with areas of inpainting, drawer pulls later, some drawer fronts with infilled holes, some minor chips to veneer of front corner edges of stiles, top drawer with small chip to cock beading, top drawer with mahogany lining and lacking some original compartments, other two long drawers lined with mahogany and with age cracks to pine drawer bottoms, some stress tears to veneers to stiles at juncture with cross bars, veneer patches to front left foot, back left foot and back right foot, front right foot with some infilled and inpainted chips to veneer, some minor areas of old worm to underside, overall with some old marks, scratches and scuffs consistent with age and use.
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.

This fine commode, with its book-matched veneers to the front drawers, serpentine top, keeled front angles, and distinctively shaped apron and sides can be firmly attributed to the workshop of Henry Hill of Marlborough on stylistic grounds. Further Hill characteristics, discussed in relation to a group of very similar commodes attributed to Hill by Lucy Wood in Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, pp. 64-73, include the ebonizing of its molded edges and thick cockbead moldings. Henry Hill was a cabinet-maker, auctioneer and agent for the Sun Insurance Company from about 1740 to 1777/8 when he died. His clientele was mostly based in his native Wiltshire, and included such important clients as Paul Methuen of Corsham Court, Henry Hoare of Stourhead, and the Duke of Somerset at Maiden Bradley. Other notable non-local commissions came from Lord Delaval of Seaton Delaval and Thomas Mansel Talbot at Penrice Castle, Glamorgan. A closely related commode from Maiden Bradley by Hill was sold, Christie's, London, 28 November 2002, lot 120. One of a pair of commodes supplied to Corsham Court, almost certainly by Hill and with 'notched' apron identical to that of the offered lot, is illustrated in Lucy Wood's article on Hill and Lord Delaval in the Furniture History Society Journal, XXVI (1990), pp.198-234 (see illustration). Finally, the Victoria and Albert museum has a very similar commode with identical profile and ebonized moldings, which in the light of Wood's research, is clearly from the Hill group. This is illustrated in M. Tomlin, Catalogue of Adam Period Furniture, London, 1982, p. 180.