M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES & FINE ARTS
 


FINE EARLY GEORGE III MAHOGANY SERPENTINE CHEST OF DRAWERS : THE TOP

England, c1760

 

Fine_Early_George_III_Mahogany_Serpentine_Chest_c1760_top_1_1550w

 

 

AN ENLARGED IMAGE FOR INSPECTION :

 

The beautifully figured timbers with original faded surfaces, the serpentine top with canted corners,
over a conforming case having fluted canted corners,
with four cockbeaded mahogany-lined drawers of graduated depths
raised on energetic spreading ogee bracket feet; the brasses original, possibly fire-gilt

   
Note :
The energy and timbers in this chest are more than exceptional.
Both the color and condition are what we always hope to find - without tampering or restoration.
When it was purchased it was in dry "country house" estate condition.
The chest has simply had a coat of clear paste wax of our choice.

 
Provenance :
Upon Request

 
Condition : Excellent, with nicks and scratches appropriate to age and usage;
one side with a shrinkage crack; some minor cracking of veneers; one small loss of veneer at right upper drawer;
the back with an age warped board and some small wood protrusions.

 


 

Many of you are familiar with the "also mah-vellous" 17th and 18th century British furniture site
Pegs and Tails -
https://pegsandtails.wordpress.com/

 written by British conservator and cabinetmaker Jack Plane.

He has been of great assistance to me in placing rather one-off British furniture.

As this is another unusually configured piece, I requested his input as to origin –

"North Country" having been given the placement for several unusual pieces in the past.

His very delightful and eloquent response is below :

 

"This bow-front chest causes me palpitations. It's a lot closer to London than Scotland;

it's altogether too sprightly to have come from 'oop nawth'.

Never mind an interesting birthplace, let the quality speak for itself!

Just look at the support that the bottom of the chest has; like the buttresses of an ancient oak

(in quarter view, the canted corners of the carcase cleverly emphasise the illusion).

The maker made the (fashionable) base moulding as wide as he dare without losing its proportion,

and the feet couldn't spread any more if they tried.

If you draw imaginary lines vertically from the toes of the feet, they must be a good 1/4" or 3/8" beyond the knees.

 Only the best drawn ogee feet are so elfish. Northern chests are usually dull-of-foot.

And North American ogee feet are normally - at least to my senses - too tall and upright or pigeon-toed.

The serpentine base moulding is extremely well drawn.

If you were to hold a straight edge up to the base, the ends of the serpentine moulding are,

at no point, parallel with the straight edge;

they keep on curving away from the chest until they eventually coincide with the side mouldings.

On lesser chests, the ends of the serpentine moulding finish square (or near) to the carcase and the side mouldings.

There are several treatments for the carcase side/top on serpentine chests:

Some go the whole hog where the sides are re-curved and the outline of the top neatly mirrors this.

Some have regular flat carcase sides, but with blocked and shaped front corners

which the top reflects to one degree or another and some have totally flat sides with ridiculous overhanging shaped tops.

Your chest has flat sides (and I wouldn't want it otherwise),

but the side edges of the top have the darlingest little outswept curves leading into the canted corners.

The fluted, canted corners and lamb's tongue blocks are composite, but that's perfectly all right (and what nice tongues).

The outrageously figured solid top is attached to the carcase at each side with one long, tapering and continuous dovetail.

Sheer genius! The mahogany drawer linings are simply too much to bear!

This chest has been elegantly drawn and constructed by the very best English guerrilla craftsmen,

 who rather than mount an all-out assault on the senses,

 have created a piece of furniture that clandestinely keeps delighting with little realisations and surprises."  

 

 
34.75" High x 39.25" Wide x 22" Deep
 

#6884

 
PRICE : PLEASE INQUIRE

 

 

  


 

To return to the That Mah-Vellous Faded Colour, please click here :

 

For the FULL LISTING with additional images, please click here :

 

Fine George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers, England, c1760

 

Fine Early George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers, c1760,
also with exquisite faded original surfaces; original brasses

 

 


 

 

We welcome and encourage all inquiries.  We will make every attempt to answer any questions you might have.

 

For information, call (901) 761-1163 or (901) 827-4668, or

Email : mfcreech@bellsouth.net  or  mfordcreech@gmail.com

American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Discover accepted

 

 

Bookmark and Share

 

  Facebook Become a fan on Facebook

 

 

M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts / 581 South Perkins Road /  Memphis, TN 38117 / USA /  Wed.-Sat. 11-6, or by appointment

 


 

 

Accessories     Ceramics     Early Asian Ceramics     Fine Art     Furniture     Glassware     Silver     Home

 

Fine Early George III Chest of Drawers, England, c1760, Large Detail : The Top