A Russian gilt-bronze-and brass-mounted mahogany bureau, circa 1790

with a stepped superstructure, with a panelled door pening to reveal two shelves flanked by a door either side enclosing a shelf, the lower section with three frieze drawers, the inside of the left drawer with a printed paper label Alexander L Podd, 21 Davies Street, Mayfair, W1, together with a further printed label LAVANCHY S.A, Lausanne 018274 and with an ink inscribed label with the numbers 331.

In overall good conserved condition. Colour slighly less reddish and gilt-bronze mounts more golden and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. Good quality gilt-bronze mounts. Old very minor marks, chips and scratches to the veneer with some very minor patches and restorations and restored cracks. The flaming of the mahogany is most attractive. Its probably that some of the shelves in the upper section have been replaced. The gilt bronze banding on the central frieze drawer is possibly a replacement as it is not the same as on the other drawers.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
A. Chenevière, Russian furniture, the Golden Age 1780-1840, London, 1988, fig. 83, p. 102, and pp. 110-144, p. 122, fig. 108, fig. 114, p. 126.

The Russian `Jacob’ style refers to the celebrated Parisian maker Georges Jacob (1739-1814) who was instrumental in disseminating the revival ininterest of the Antique style in furniture and decorations in association with the celebrated architects and designers C. Percier and P. F. L. Fontaine, who published their seminal work Receuil de Décorations Intérieures in 1812. However, apart from this use of mahogany there is little that the Russian Empire style and the furniture made by Jacob had in common. According to Cheneviere op. cit., `the use of the term `Jacob’ was no more than a commercial ploy to evoke foreign qualities in what was in fact a domestic product’.

Russian furniture in this style is almost always in mahogany or in a stained wood to simulate mahogany.  Its second feature is that it is always decorated with brass strips or rosettes. What is striking about this bureau is the quality of the gilt-bronze mounts with fine detail. It is worthwhile considering a large mahogany bureau by Heinrich Gambs with neo-classical gilt-bronze mounts above the legs as on the offered bureau,  (State Hermitage Museum, inv. no. 29). Another feature of this Russian `Jacob' style furniture is its geometric outlines often inspired by architectural forms with geometric decoration. The production of this style of furniture continued well into the 1830’s. A bureau of similar outline to the offered lot but lacking the sophisticated gilt-bronze mounts is illustrated by Cheneviere, op. cit., fig. 114, p. 127.