A Regency black lacquered and giltwood drum shaped bookcase early 19th century

with an inset tooled leather top with central octagonal lid opening to reveal a well fitted with a jardinière liner, the double paw feet with concealed castors

With H. Blairman & Sons, London at some point before 1985;

Interestingly there is a bookcase in the famous Wanstead House sale in 1822 which is described as follows:

`Principal Grand Floor, No 2, Green Damask Velvet Sitting Room

Lot 14

AN ELEGANT CIRCULAR ORIENTAL JAPAN ROTARY LADY`S BOOKCASE AND WORK TABLE, divided into compartments by handsome tablets, top lined with crimson Genoa velvet, and octagon work bag in DITTO, FILLED with puckered silk, rich and chased mouldings and gallery round, on carved and gilt lion`s paw feet and plinths, castors etc. and crimson ground chintz case, 2-feet-1’

This description, almost exactly describes the present unusual lot and strongly suggests that it could well be the same piece.

If this is the case, the present bookcase would almost certainly have originally been commissioned by Catherine Tylney-Long ( d.1825) for Wanstead House, Essex following her marriage in 1812 to The Hon. William Pole Tylney-Long- Wellesley, later 4th Earl of Mornington ( d.1857) and sold by Mr Robins ( of Warwick House, Regent Street) , Wanstead House sale, 10th June 1822 and the following 31days.

Wanstead House, Essex was one of the great houses of the 18th century. The estate was already famous in the 17th century because of the alterations and improvements made by the owner Sir Josiah Child, Baronet, who had bought the estate in 1673. His second son and eventual heir Sir Richard Child, Baronet, (1679-1743)  was created Baron Newton and Viscount Castlemaine in 1718 and subsequently Earl Tylney of Castlemaine in 1731. He and his family took the Tylney name as his wife, Dorothy Tylney had inherited the extensive estates of her Tylney relation, Anne, Baroness Craven. Colen Campbell was commissioned by Lord Tylney to build what was to be a monumental Palladian house. It is illustrated in the first edition of Vitruvius Britannicus in 1715. The interiors were designed by William Kent.

He was succeeded by his son John, ( b. 1712) as 2^nd Earl Tylney. He died without issue in 1784 and was in turn succeeded by his nephew Sir James Long, Baronet, of Draycot, Wiltshire, who took the name of Tylney-Long. His only surviving child Catherine became the eventual; heiress in 1805 with the then enormous income of £25,000 per annum and £300,000 in cash. In 1812 she married the nephew of the Duke of Wellington, the Hon. William Wellesley-Pole ( 1788-1857) , who later became 4^th Earl of Morington in 1845.

Following the marriage, the grand mansion, neglected for nearly half a century was refurbished at great expense and large additional sums were spent on furniture and works of art in order that it might reflect the social aspirations of its new owners. Unfortunately  the price of his political ambition and general extravagance led him to squander his wife`s immense fortune and the sale of the house and contents became unavoidable and took place in 1822.

The sale which was to become one of the most famous sales of its type of the 19th century, was conducted by the celebrated auctioneer Mr Robins of Regent Street. The sale commenced on Monday 10^th June and proceeded for 32 days until Tuesday 23^rd July when it finished with the emptying of outbuildings, rick yard and dog kennels.  His sale catalogue which unusually for the time gives remarkably elaborate and full descriptions lists the eleven rooms on the Principal Grand Floor  from the Green Damask Sitting Room and the Red Damask State Bedchamber to the Grand State Apartments of Hall, Dining Room, Drawing Room, Saloon and Ball Room.

Illustrated Francis Collard, Regency Furniture, Suffolk, 1995, p.204

A fantastic object. The leather top with numerous old marks, ring marks, cigarette burns and scratches. The brass gallery tarnished. The lacquered panels to the side with re-touching to disguise old marks and minor losses. The re-gilt-feet with chips and old marks.
"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."

This interesting circular bookcase incorporating Chinese lacquer panels is conceived in the Chinoiserie taste as propagated by the Prince Regent, later George IV and his homage to the orient, the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. A virtually identical bookcase was sold from The Horlick Collection in these rooms, 5 July 2007, lot 39.