Bonhams 1793 : A George II mahogany chest by Philip Bell of St Paul's Churchyard

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amended

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

A George II mahogany chest

by Philip Bell of St Paul's Churchyard
The rectangular moulded top with re-entrant corners above four long graduated drawers on shaped bracket feet, with paper label to the interior of the top drawer, 'Philip Bell / at the WHITE SWAN against / The South Gate in St Pauls Church Yard / London / Makes & sells al sorts of ye finest Cabinet Goods, / all sorts of Looking Glasses , Coach Glasses & Chairs / of all sorts at Reasonable Rates./ NB. Old Glasses new Worked & made up Fashionable', 95cm wide, 52cm deep, 90cm high (37" wide, 20" deep, 35" high).

Estimate:

£2,500 - 3,500
€2,900 - 4,100
US$ 3,800 - 5,300

Footnotes

Philip Bell is recorded as working from St Paul's Churchyard between 1758-74. He succeeded his father Henry Bell who had founded the firm in 1736 and when Philip came of age he assisted his widowed mother Elizabeth with the running of the firm. Known pieces of furniture with Philip Bell's label are generally good quality serviceable pieces of furniture although a few recorded pieces are decorated with carving, see The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660 -1840, Leeds 1996, p.17.