A Scottish George III mahogany serpentine sideboard by Young & Trotter of Edinburgh, circa 1787

the 'commode front' with a fluted frieze punctuated by paterae and centred by a tablet crossbanded in rosewood and inlaid with a festooned urn, on six leaf carved fluted turned tapering legs

Acquired by Sir William Forbes 6th Bt. (1739-1806) in 1787

Supplied by Young & Trotter, Edinburgh, 28 December 1787; 'a fine mahogy. sideboard, commode front and elegantly inlaid with patras & entablature, £10-10-0;
62/8 [?] yards green flannel £0-11-2, ¼ yards worsted crape £0-0-10, making a sideboard cover of green flannel bordered & bound £0-3-9', NLS (Acc.4796/217)

Of good quality. The top has been repolished/restored and there are old marks and scratches consistent with age and use. The base may well have been re-polished at some point n its history. Variation to colour. One front leg with fracture and old repair. Ingrained areas of darker polish to carved detail. For additional images please contact the department on 0207 293 6441.
"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."

The bill from Young & Trotter for this lot is an exciting re-discovery amongst the Fettercairn Papers at the National Library of Scotland. It illustrates the taste of William Forbes, a prominent Edinburgh figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. It shows him acquiring work for his new house from one of Scotland’s most important cabinet-makers in a key urban development for the capital. It also casts light and documents another facet of the makers output and the inspiration of the designs and new styles they were exposed to and featured in published print books by other cabinet-maker designers.

It dates from a time when Forbes was decorating his newly acquired house, no. 86 George Street. This house, part of the creation of Edinburgh’s New Town, was constructed between the April of 1786 and the December of 1789 by architect-builder Alexander Laing for £3023. Interestingly, Laing was made a member of the Royal Company of Archers in 1777, a company to whom William Forbes was also attached. This elegant sideboard, neoclassical in taste, reflects the style in which much of the New Town was designed. It was the costliest item ordered in 1787, costing £10-10-0, with a further £0-11-12 for a bespoke green flannel and worsted cover. The sophisticated ‘commode-front’ and the luxurious materials and marquetry employed must have seemed perfect for furnishing William Forbes's fashionable new Dining Room.

Young & Trotter were amongst Edinburgh’s most illustrious and fashionable suppliers. At the time of this sideboard acquisition, they had premises on Princes Street and both men lived on St James’s Square. The construction of Edinburgh’s New Town afforded much new business. The Trotter dynasty stretched over a century. William Trotter was admitted to the Merchant Company of Edinburgh in 1724 and initially dealt primarily in hardware. From 1750 Trotter merged with the upholsterer, Robert Young, from this point the company came into its own. The clients they supplied were wealthy and the houses furnished illustrious. Most of the major Scottish aristocrats acquired work from their workshops. These patrons and clients included Lord Dundas, the Earls of Hopetoun, Dumfries and Rosebery, Sir James Clerk of Penicuik, The Duke of Hamilton and the Comte D’Artois for his apartments at Holyrood House, The Duke of Buccleuch and many Edinburgh institutions of note. Many of these figures knew each other and were acquaintances of William Forbes.