A pair of George III style satinwood Kingwood and fruitwood marquetry marble top corner commodes in the style of Mayhew and Ince late 19th/early 20th century

Sold Sotheby's, London, November 23, 2005, lot 63

Overall good condition; the top with minor chips and wear to extremities; one commode with slightly lifting to the metal mount to the top of the door; some minor nicks and wear to the edges of the doors.
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.

The offered lot relates to a commode and a pair of corner cabinets attributed to Mayhew & Ince in the Lady Lever Art Gallery Collection at Port Sunlight, Merseyside shown illustrated in Lucy Wood, Catalogue of Commodes, 1994 edition, pp. 195-199, figs. 187-188 which have almost identical inlay.

Another pair of cabinets can also be seen in the Spencer House Collection, London and are shown in Joseph Friedman, Spencer House, Chronicle of a Great London Mansion, 1993 edition, fig. XXVIII.

The firm of John Mayhew (1736-1811) and William Ince (d.1804) was one of the most successful and enduring partnerships of cabinet-makers in the 18th century. They are first recorded as partners in December 1758, advertising from an address at Broad Street in January 1759. In 1763  they were described as` cabinet-makers, carvers and upholders`, and in 1778 `manufacturers of plate glass` appeared on their bill heading. From the 1780s the categories of `cabinet maker` and upholsterer predominate, reflecting the change in taste from carved to veneered and inlaid furniture, which was much more fashionable. One of their earlier ventures was to publish The Universal System of Household Furniture  in 1762 which included eighty-nine numbered plates and six smaller ones dedicated to the 4th Duke of Marlborough. The relative failure of this was probably caused by the distinctly Rococo manner of the designs which was rapidly becoming unfashionable due to the rise of the Neo-Classical taste and the architect Robert Adam. The partnership was not slow in embracing these new forms as is shown by their own work, which can be seen in the offered lot and their close involvement with Adam himself in making furniture to his own designs for many of his important clients. Some of Mayhew and Ince`s most important patrons included the Prince of Wales, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, the 5th Duke of Bedford and the 1st Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.