A Pair of George II painted and parcel-gilt oval mirrors POSSIBLY 18TH CENTURY

with hunting motifs.

The Estate of Sarah Hunter Kelly

Sold, Christie's, New York, March 12, 1983, lot 95 ($24,000)

Overall good restored condition; re-decorated; with repairs and repalcments to tips of carved elements; mirror glass plates later; one with replaced tip to right side of cresting; overall with chips, losses and scratches to gilding and painted decoration.
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.

By repute, these overdoors carved with hunting trophies were supplied to Frederick, Prince of Wales (1707-1751), although no records of their commission survive.  The son of George II and father of George III, the Prince was a keen huntsman and commissioned hunting scenes by the painter John Wootton (1681/2-1764).  In 1739 he bought Park Place, near Henley-on-Thames, which he used as a hunting lodge.  

Interestingly, a design by John Linnell for a related 'Drawing Room Door', circa 1755, shows an inset oval canvas within a frame carved with draped netting, game and scrolls, the apron centered by a scrolled ruffle, the bases of the sides also carved with scrolls and foliage; see H. Hayward, 'The Drawings of John Linnell in the Victoria and Albert Museum,' The Journal of the Furniture History Society¸ vol. V, 1969, p. 107, fig. 161, p. 80.  As Hayward notes: 'The hunting theme, introducing a fishing net and dead game, probably derives from an ornamental engraving by Pineau and occurs in other drawings (see also fig. 141).'  This latter design of an overmantel is surmounted by drapery swags suspended from a hunting horn and carved with a ribbon-tied fishing net, dead game, a shotgun and a quiver of arrows.   The present pair of overdoors is probably lacking the central section of the cresting and has replacements to elements.

The scrolled supports on plinths of an engraving of a cartouche from the title page of A New Book of Ornaments useful for Silver-Smiths etc., Invented and Drawn by Jn. Linnell and Engraved by Gabl. Smith, 1760, corresponds to the present pair of overdoors, the wavy scrolls carved with foliage; see Hayward and Kirkham, William and John Linnell, 1980, vol. II, p. 165, fig. 314.