Bonhams 1793 : A William IV satinwood and kingwood marquetry gilt brass mounted bureau plat In the Louis XV style, attributable to Edward Holmes Baldock

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6 Mar 2013 14:00 GMT London, New Bond Street
Fine English Furniture
Back to auction 20741

A William IV satinwood and kingwood marquetry gilt brass mounted bureau plat

In the Louis XV style, attributable to Edward Holmes Baldock
The moulded serpentine top with tooled Moroccan leather writing surface within a border of cornucopia issuing flowers, each corner with an ivory, metal and mother of pearl inlaid portrait medallions, depicting members of the French Monarchy: Francois I, F 1st, Charles VII and Frederick I, above a frieze including three drawers and inlaid with conforming floral sprays bordered by rococo mounts, the berry inlaid cabriole legs with foliate and chased mounts and sabots, 129cm wide, 67cm deep, 76cm high (50.5" wide, 26" deep, 29.5" high).

Estimate:

£15,000 - 20,000
€18,000 - 24,000
US$ 23,000 - 30,000

Footnotes

Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845) is listed in London Trade Directories of the period in various capacities. He first appears listed at 7 Hanway Street, London in 1805 described as a '...dealer in china and glass' and by 1821 as '...an antique furniture and ornamental furniture dealer'. By 1826 the various facets of the business included '...buying and selling, exchanging and valuing china, cabinets, screens, bronzes etc' Baldock's business seems to have largely involved trading in foreign items and from 1832-1837 he was the purveyor of earthenware and glass to William IV and later purveyor of china to Queen Victoria from 1838 until his death. He is known to have repaired, re-modelled and adapted furniture, often 18th century pieces, but he also designed furniture both in the 18th century style and in more contemporary styles. The pieces that appear with the E.H.B cypher may have been made by him at his Hanway Street workshop but there is no documentary proof as to whether he both designed and manufactured them. Rather than being a straightforward manufacturer Baldock's activities link him more closely with the 18th century marchand-merciers such as Daguerre and Poirier.

Category: Furniture / English Furniture and Works of Art

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