A fine George III mahogany dressing chest of drawers in the manner of Thomas Chippendale circa 1765

the mahogany lined top drawer with a baize-lined panel fitted with a panel opening to the drawer interior, the whole sliding back to reveal a fitted interior centered by a mirrored panel on a ratchet support, flanked by a hinged lidded compartment and lidded compartments and inkwell recesses, all over three graduated cockbeaded drawers, raised on bracket feet with casters.

Paul Couts Ltd., Edinburgh, from whom acquired in 1988

Overall good restored condition; the top re-polished and lighter in color than rest of timbers of chest of drawers; one handle to one drawer with old repaired break; two drawer bottoms with repaired age cracks; the interior side of the left side panel with three butterfly patches probably contemporary to manufacture; small chip to veneer of bottom right corner of front as seen in the catalogue illustration; the underside with a butterfly repaired age crack; overall with old marks, scratches, scuffs and 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.

This dressing chest of drawers relates to a design for a 'French Commode Table' in Thomas Chippendale's The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director, 1754, pl. XLVIII.  Similar to commodes made by Thomas Chippendale (b. 1718-d. 1779), it is made of both solid mahogany and mahogany veneers on a pine and oak carcase, the timbers of fine quality and density, the solid mahogany relating in its use to that used on documented Chippendale furniture.  A further device characteristic of his work is the use of paneled pilasters invariably headed by scrolled brackets above pendent strings of finely carved and detailed husks or bell flowers. Related pilasters are found on documented examples of mahogany case furniture dating from the 1760s, such as the pair of Library Bookcases supplied to Sir Lawrence Dundas for 19 Arlington Street in 1764, and the Library Table and Commode Clothes-Press, both commissioned for Nostell Priory in 1766, and also from the 1770s, such as the Martin Library Table. The design of these finely molded and tapered 'pilasters' is also found used as chair legs supplied, amongst others, to Harewood House and Goldsborough Hall in the early 1770s.  A mahogany cabinet attributed to Chippendale with similar carved brackets and pendent strings of husks was sold in these rooms, The Collection of Martin and Gloria Gersh, October 18, 2006, lot 66.  Furthermore, the light red wash to the underside, the built-up corner blocks to the feet and the 'triple wheel' friction rollers (similar to those found on the Harewood House library table; see C. Gilbert, The Life and Work of Thomas Chippendale, 1978, vol. II, p. 147, fig. 266), are all are characteristics of Chippendale's production.