A pair of Louis XV gilt-bronze mounted rosewood encoignures by Jacques Dubois, circa 1750

Possibly in the collection of Lady Lettice Lygon, Baroness of Cotterell (1906–1973)'

The collection of Henry W. Rubin and thence by descent.

A pair of encoignures stamped I.DUBOIS, similar in shape however featuring lesser mounts was sold at Christie's, Monaco, 13th December 1998, lot 314.The label on the present clearly suggests that the piece was in the famous Maples Depository on behalf of Lady Cottrill. In the 1880s, the firm had established in Camden Town at King Street/Camden Street in 1880s, for removals and storage of used furniture. They also had a branch in Paris.

The 'Lady Cottrill' in question may be Lady Lettice Lygon (1906–1973), the daughter of the 7th Earl Beauchamp and granddaughter of the Marquess of Westminster on her maternal side. She was part of the group of urbane, sometimes bacchanalian group of young inter-war aristocrats dubbed the Bright Young Things, a circle that was wider than the handful of authors and artists associated with the name whose works we remember today. In 1930 she married Sir Richard Cotterell, 5th Baronet (1907–1978), with Philip de László capturing their likenesses in two skilled portraits the following year.¹ The flaxen young Baronet's shining regalia is given a Rembrandt-like lyricism through gentle brushwork and a sombre background, while the handsome face of the Baroness is set off by a lithe, twisted posture that emphasises her slim wrists. It took László several attempts to create a portrait of the Baroness with which he was fully satisfied, and and there is also an alternative version of this portrait with the same hairstyle and drapery but a different choice of jewellery and a colder overall colour palette.²

¹ 4187 and 4189 in the digital catalogue raisonné of Philip de László's work. For the Baroness's portrait, see <https://www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com/catalogue/the-catalogue/cotterell-lady-lettice-nee-lady-lettice-lygon-wife-of-5th-baronet-4189>

² 7977 in the catalogue raisonné. See <https://www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com/catalogue/the-catalogue/cotterell-lady-nee-lady-lettice-lygon-wife-of-5th-baronet-7977> [11th May 2025]