A Magnificent William and Mary Scarlet Gilt and Silver-Lacquer Secretaire-on-Chest Circa 1690

A Magnificent William and Mary Scarlet Gilt and Silver-Lacquer Secretaire-on-Chest, Circa 1690.

Decorated overall with elaborate Chinoiserie scenes depicting figures and fantastical beasts in landscapes amongst scrolling foliage, with a frieze drawer above a fall-front door concealing an arrangement of pigeonholes, drawers, secret compartments, cupboards and an adjustable writing slide, above two short and two long drawers, on later decorated bun feet.

This rare cabinet is spectacular in the detail and ingenuity of its decoration and its brilliant red ground. It is a remarkable survival, retaining virtually all of its original decoration. The rare vibrancy of the 'Chinese red' ground compares to the Queen Anne bachelor's chest/writing table formerly owned by Sir Phillip Sassoon, Bt. at Trent Park, Hertfordshire and subsequently to Houghton Hall, Norfolk (sold Christie's, London, 'Works of Art from Houghton', 8 December 1994, lot 114).
 This form of secretaire was made popular between 1685 and 1710; most other examples known and illustrated appear to be of marquetry or plain wood. The cabinet, when it was sold by Partridge Fine Arts in 1987, had come from the Agnelli family. The socialite Marella Agnelli furnished her New York home in the early 1980s with the assistance of the Milan-based Renzo Mongiardino, who was the family's decorator for 30 years.

Provenance:

The Agnelli family, Milan, Italy.

With Partridge, Fine Arts London 1987.

Private Collection New York.

Literature

Partridge, Summer Exhibition Catalogue, 1987, item 10, pp. 34-35.

No other red Chinoiserie secretaire of this design is known. For other examples see a black Chinoiserie secretaire illustrated in The Present State of Old English Furniture by R.W.Symonds. A walnut and marquetry secretaire illustrated and discussed in The History of English Furniture. The Age of Walnut, 1905, Percy Macquoid, pp.55 and 58-59, figs. 53 & 54. in the collection of the Duke of Beaufort. For other examples see The Dictionary of English Furniture, 1954 ( rev. edn. ), Vol.1, p.136, figs. 27-29.

Dimensions

Price on application

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance