A George III crossbanded mahogany serpentine 'commode' table by William Crawford, 1770
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
A George III crossbanded mahogany serpentine 'commode' table by William Crawford
1770
the top inlaid with boxwood and ebony star motifs at the front corners, on chamfered square legs, the pull-out frieze drawer with a fitted interior and additional legs
82cm. high, 107cm. wide, 56cm. deep.
Commissioned by Grace, Lady Knatchbull (1730-1788).
Skimbo (op. cit., p.85) refers to a letter sent by William Crawford to Lady Knatchbull on 2 May 1770, informing her that 'according to your Ladyshipe Order I shipt the furniture [which included the present lot] and that Your Ladyship further orders will much oblidge', and notes that full payment of £62 was received in October 1770.
Sir Edward Knatchbull's account of furnishings with William Crawford, 24th April 1770, '1 Commode Mahy Table with a dressing drawer / £5 0s. 0d.' (The Knatchbull-Brabourne MSS U951/A18/66);
Inventory, 1885, p. 54, in the 'Ivy Chamber';
Inventory, 1926, p. 19, on the first floor landing;
Peter Thornton, ‘The Furnishing of Mersham le Hatch, Part II’, Apollo, June 1970, illustrated, p. 440;
Akiko Skimbo, Furniture Makers and Consumers in England, 1754-1851, 2015, p. 95.
Inventory, 1885, p. 54, in the 'Ivy Chamber';
Inventory, 1926, p. 19, on the first floor landing;
Peter Thornton, ‘The Furnishing of Mersham le Hatch, Part II’, Apollo, June 1970, illustrated, p. 440;
Akiko Skimbo, Furniture Makers and Consumers in England, 1754-1851, 2015, p. 95.
The present lot was supplied by William Crawford and is recorded in Sir Edward Knatchbull's accounts on 24th April 1770 described as '1 Commode Mahy Table with a dressing drawer / £5 0s. 0d.'
William Crawford (active 1768-83), cabinetmaker and upholsterer, is recorded as working at 228 High Holborn, London. Little is known about him other than in 1778 with William Bond, carver and gilder and Thomas Noble, proprietors of the Casino in Marlborough Street, took out insurance cover for £800. In 1770 he supplied furniture to Sir Edward which, in addition to the present lot, is known to include a mahogany 'Gothic' four post bedstead at £24, a ‘common’ mahogany clothes press at £5 (see lot 255), a basin stand at 10s 6d and a dressing table at £11 5s.
William Crawford (active 1768-83), cabinetmaker and upholsterer, is recorded as working at 228 High Holborn, London. Little is known about him other than in 1778 with William Bond, carver and gilder and Thomas Noble, proprietors of the Casino in Marlborough Street, took out insurance cover for £800. In 1770 he supplied furniture to Sir Edward which, in addition to the present lot, is known to include a mahogany 'Gothic' four post bedstead at £24, a ‘common’ mahogany clothes press at £5 (see lot 255), a basin stand at 10s 6d and a dressing table at £11 5s.