A George III yewwood serpentine commode circa 1770

attributed to Mayhew and Ince, the quarter veneered top crossbanded in padouk, the doors enclosing four sliding trays, one later, with brass carrying handles to the sides and a depository label for G E JOHNSON & SONS, (SHAFTSBURY) LTD. /Depositories/22926

This piece is in good restored condition. It has been re-polished. There have been age cracks to both doors which now have been filled and re-veneered. There are patches on both sides adjacent to the hinges suggesting that these may have been repaired at some stage. There are some minor age cracks to the top. The front feet have been repaired. Both doors are slightly warped. Top slightly bowed towards the back.
"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 use of finely figured burr-yew veneers on an expansive scale has strong associations with furniture produced by the leading London cabinet-makers Mayhew and Ince of Golden Square, London. As noted in The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 593, yew wood was `the only wholly idiosyncratic veneer wood the firm used and possibly unique to Mayhew and Ince among London cabinet-makers of this date'. Recorded examples of their furniture executed in this timber include a commode supplied to Sir Brook Bridges of Goodnestone Park, Kent (exhibited in Treasures from Kent Houses, Royal Museum, Canterbury, September-October 1994, no. 57). 

Although the firm is generally known to have produced examples with fine quality gilt-bronze mounts, and the present example is unusually plain, the overall form of the present commode is typical of commodes known to be by this firm. The serpentine form with protruding corners and shaped bracket feet relate to examples known to be by the firm. 

For comparison, examples can be seen in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, which is illustrated in Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary of English Furniture, 1954, 3 vols., rev.ed vol. II, p.117, fig. 19. Other examples include a serpentine commode in the Leverhulme Collection illustrated in Lucy Wood, The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Catalogue of Commodes, 1992, p.222-225  and another commode in the collection of Sir Michael Sobell, Christie`s London, 23rd June 1994.