A fine and rare George III brass-mounted sabicu and mahogany serpentine dressing commode, attributed to Henry Hill of Marlborough Circa 1770-1775

the sabicu-crossbanded serpentine top with outset rounded corners above a case with straight sides and keeled angled fronts mounted with foliate-cast brass chutes continuing to sabots, the case fitted with five graduated cockbeaded drawers, the central drawer fitted with a baize-lined brushing slide opening to a central dressing mirror on a ratchet support and a compartmentalized interior, the other drawers with original 18th century stamped German lining paper beneath modern liners.

Lucy Wood, 'Furniture for Lord Delaval: Metropolitan and Provincial,' The Journal of the Furniture History Society, 1990, vol. XXVI, pp. 198-234, illustrated, p. 232, fig. 22

Lucy Wood, The Lady Lever Art Gallery Catalogue of Commodes, London: HMSO, 1994, pp. 64-73, p. 73, fig. 60

Exceptional quality, mahogany lined drawers with German paper; drawer bottoms are made of pine except for the dressing drawer which has a mahogany drawer bottom; pine boards to back; very good restored condition; age cracks to veneers of top, back of top slightly warped; minor replacements to crossbanding of top; original hardware and mounts lacking original surface and now polished; minor age cracks to veneers of drawer fronts; fourth drawer with replacement to cockbeading to bottom right corner; some small patches to veneers of drawer dividers; old marks and scratches; repaired break to front left leg, veneer replace to front of front left leg; minor replacements to veneers of apron; tearing to veneers of front of front right leg, and with a diagonal patch to veneer above foot.
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 dressing commode with sabicu-crossbanded serpentine top, rounded corners and straight sides, book-matched veneers to the front drawers between keeled angle fronts with foliate-cast chutes continuing to sabots, and distinctively shaped apron and sides can be attributed to the workshop of Henry Hill of Marlborough on stylistic grounds; see Lucy Wood, Catalogue of Commodes, London: HMSO, 1994, pp. 64-73, p. 73, fig. 60.  Of a rarer form that is more typical of Hill's oeuvre, i.e., commodes usually fitted with fewer drawers, this commode is fitted with five drawers, the third drawer compartmentalized and centered by a dressing mirror flanked by lidded boxes.

What is especially notable about this commode is the survival of the stamped lining paper, probably by Johann Carl Munck, active in Augsburg in the second half of the 18^th century and found in another commode attributed to Hill at the Lady Lever Art Gallery; see Wood, op. cit., pp. 67, fig. ix, and color pl. 6, and in a commode sold in these rooms, October 23, 1998, lot 345.

Henry Hill worked as a cabinetmaker, decorator, auctioneer, furnisher, estate agent and representative of the Sun Insurance Company in Marlborough, Wiltshire, from the early 1740s until his death in 1778, when the business was taken over by his assistant Samuel Hilliker.  Despite his provincial origins, Hill worked for some of the most sophisticated patrons of his day.  A major London client was Sir John, later Lord, Deleval, whose commission is recorded in a number of letters between himself and Hilliker of Seaton Delaval (see L. Wood, 'Furniture for Lord Delaval,' Journal of the Furniture History Society, 1990, vol. XXVI, pp. 198-222).  Most of his known clients appear to have resided in his immediate area, and included the 9th Duke of Somerset at Maiden Bradley, whose purchases in 1770-1771 amounted to £227 10s 3d.  Other clients included Paul Methuen of Corsham Court, whose accounts show an expenditure of £1300 between 1760 and 1778, Arabella Calley of Burderop Park, near Swindon and Henry Hoare at Stourhead.  A commode attributed to Hill with parquetry and floral marquetry serpentine top, keeled front angles with French style gilt-metal chutes continuing to sabots, shaped apron, straight sides and ebonized borders was sold in these rooms, October 23, 1998, lot 345; another attributed to Hill, almost certainly supplied to Edward Seymour, 9^th Duke of Somerset for Maiden Bradley, was sold, Christie's London, November 28, 2002, lot 120; see also Hotspur: Eighty Years of Antiques Dealing, London, 2004, p. 49 (detail), p. 53, fig. 2, p. 56; another brass-mounted mahogany and gonçalo alves commode attributed to Hill was sold, Sotheby's London, The Norman Adams Collection, April 21, 2009, lot 84.

See:
G. Beard and C. Gilbert (eds.), The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840, Leeds, 1986, p. 430
L. Wood, The Lady Lever Art Gallery Catalogue of Commodes, London, 1994, pp. 64-73 (this publication has the most comprehensive account of the work of Henry Hill and is the primary source for the above footnote)