M&J Duncan FINE ANTIQUES & WORKS OF ART 2011
Welcome to our 2011 catalogue. It has always been our aim to source the finest pieces of furniture from the 18th and 19th Centuries paying particular focus to the most important and influential cabinet makers. After the success of our 2010 catalogue, we have worked even harder to ensure that every piece is selected for its rarity, provenance and excellent condition. This year s catalogue also contains some exceptionally rare and beautiful pieces, in particular the magnificent Ceylonese centre table on pages 2 and 3, the exceptional wine cooler attributed to Gillows on page 8 and the fine pair of rosewood side tables on pages 4 and 5. We also have some truly outstanding Oriental and Indian pieces, including the pair or Chinese Imari vases from Kinross House on page 9 and an impressive Anglo-Indian ivory inlaid writing box on page 16. We saw a great many of you at our 2010 exhibitions and we hope to see you again at this Olympia International Fine Art & Antiques Fair in June and the LAPADA Art and Antiques Fair in September. For our full exhibition schedule, and for complimentary tickets, please visit our website. All of our stock is available to view by appointment at our showroom in East Sussex, or visiting www.mjduncan.com where our stock changes regularly. We will also endeavour to source pieces by request and are always happy to bring pieces to you to view them in situ. Please visit our website for a full listing of services. M&J Duncan Antiques PO Box 285, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 9EA Tel: +44 (0)1825 733584 Mobile: +44 (0)7968 141473 Web: www.mjduncan.com Email: antiques@mjduncan.com 1
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CEYLONESE CENTRE TABLE Ceylonese Circa: 1830 A Ceylonese spiral design ivory inlaid ebony and specimen wood centre table. The circular tilt-top centred by a medallion inlaid with a parrot issuing swirling radiating bands of various specimen veneers including palm, calamander and satinwood bordered by chequered banding and with a foliatecarved edge and satinwood frieze, above an ebony foliate baluster column carved with lion-mask and a tripod base modelled with goose heads baring depository labels for T. JOHNSON & SONS, LTD./ BELFAST Literature: This table, with its carved ebony and exotic native timbers, is typical of furniture manufactured on the island of Sir Lanka (formerly Ceylon) in the Galle district. The Galle district of Ceylon was famous in the 19th century for its specimen-wood furniture. Tables of this type were supplied to British colonists in Ceylon and India for export to England. Their popularity was noted by the traveller H.C Sirr in 1850, who wrote that in Galle one could find those exquisite inlaid articles, which far surpass any specimen of Tunbridge ware that has yet been produced - ivory and various coloured native woods are inlaid upon the ebony and its designs are well defined, the effect produced is magnificent. A number of tables similarly inlaid with exotic woods are known, including the earliest dated example, formerly at the Royal Commonwealth Society with a presentation plaque dated 1836. H: 30 (76cm) W: 46 (116.84cm) D: 46 (116.84cm) 2
AN EXCEPTIONAL RARE PAIR OF REGENCY ROSEWOOD AND PARCEL GILT SIDE TABLES. English Circa: 1820 An exceptionally fine pair of Regency rosewood and parcel gilt side tables. The rectangular top with brass pierced gallery supported on a fluted stem of trumpet form resting on triform plinth, standing on carved parcel gilt paw feet. Literature: The column support on these tables is inspired from a design for a floor standing torchere designed by Thomas Hope, which he illustrated in his catalogue entitled Household Furniture & Interior Decoration, 1807. The use of ebony in the column support is comparable to some of the furniture supplied to the Whitbread family of Southill Park, Bedfordshire, much of which was made by Edward Marsh, to the design of Henry Holland. H: 28 (71.12cm) W: 25.5 (64.77cm) D: 21 (53.34cm) 4
A FINE GEORGE III PARCEL GILT AND PAINTED SALON SUITE IN THE MANNER OF HENRY HOLLAND English Circa: 1790 Comprising of sofa and two open arm chairs. The sofa with a padded back within a moulded square section frame and padded down swept arms above padded sides, the cushion seat above a panelled seat rail on fluted baluster legs. The chairs of similar form on fluted baluster legs and spool feet. Provenance: Commissioned for Bodelwyddan Castle Denbigshire, North Wales by Sir John Williams 1st Bt. (1761 1830) and thence by decent to his son. Sofa: H: 33.85 (86cm) W: 55 (140cm) D: 25.6 (65cm) Chairs: H: 33.46 (85cm) W: 25.5 (64cm) D: 21.25 (54cm) 6
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE GEORGE III WINE COOLER ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS English Circa: 1800 A fine George III mahogany oval wine cooler, the fluted hinged oval top surmounted by an oval sunflower-form finial and opening to a lead lined interior. Raised on reeded balusterform turned supports ending with brass capped castors. Literature: The reeded baluster supports on turned tapering legs are almost identical to those on a wine cooler by Gillows offered by Christie s London. A related wine cooler of oval form with turned baluster legs is illustrated in Percy Macquoid and Ralph Edwards, The Dictionary on English Furniture, Three volumes, rev.ed, 1954, Vol. I, p,223. H: 24 (60.96cm) W: 27 (68.58cm) D: 22.5 (57.15cm) 8
AN EXCEPTIONAL PAIR OF CHINESE IMARI VASES Chinese Circa: 1720 A pair of Chinese Imari oviform vases and domed covers, both decorated with pheasants resting on rock work amongst blossoming peony branches and foliage, the covers decorated with giltwood finials. H. 26 (66cm) Provenance; Kinross House, Scotland. Kinross House, built in the late 17th Century on the outskirts of Kinross, overlooking Loch Leven in central Scotland was built by Sir William Bruce(1630-1710) arguably Scotland s greatest classical architect. Kinross House was considered by the author Daniel Defoe to be the most beautiful and regular piece of architecture in Scotland and is still looked upon as being the most important early classical estate Scotland has to offer. The house remained privately owned by the Montgomery family until 2010 when the building and many of its contents were sold. 9
A FINE QUEEN ANNE BURR WALNUT BUREAU BOOKCASE English Circa: 1710 A Queen Anne burr walnut double domed bureau bookcase retaining excellent colour and patina. The double domed upper section with arched panelled doors enclosing a fitted interior with pigeonholes and serpentine fronted drawers. The base section with raised moulded writing slope enclosing a further fitted interior with a leather lined writing surface, pigeon-holes and drawers above a well, above two short and two long graduated drawers on the moulded plinth with later bun feet. H: 82 (208.28cm) W: 41 (104.14cm) D: 24 (60.96cm) 10
A PAIR OF GEORGE III STYLE CAVED GILTWOOD MIRRORS English Circa: 1880 The oval plates within moulded and rocalle carved frames with pierced scrolling leaf entwined out of frames, each surmounted by ho-ho birds perched on asymmetrical pierced cabochon and flower had cresting s wth pierced foliate and scroll aprons below. H: 55 (141cm) W: 29 (74cm)
A REGENCY PERIOD BREAKFRONT SIDE CABINET ATTRIBUTED TO GILLOWS English Circa: 1810 A fine regency rosewood and brass inlaid breakfront side cabinet of small proportions with three fabric panelled doors behind brass grills. The cabinet supported on reeded bun feet. H: 37.5 (95.25cm) W: 42 (106.68cm) D: 14 (35.56cm) LOUISE JOPLING RBA PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG VENETIAN WOMAN HOLDING A BASKET OF FLOWERS Oil on canvas Louise Goode was born in Manchester in 1843. At the age of 17 she married Frank Romer, who in 1865 was appointed private secretary to Baron Rothschild in Paris. The Baroness discovered her talent for drawing and advised her to take lessons with M. Charles Chaplin which she did. In 1867-8 she exhibited two small red chalk drawings of heads at the Salon. In 1869 her husband lost his appointment and died in 1873. In 1874 she married Joseph Middleton Jopling a watercolour painter who was a pupil of Chaplin & Alfred Stevens in Paris. Louise went on to paint portraits, genre and landscapes and exhibited her work as Romer from 1870-3 at the Royal Academy and as Jopling from 1874 onwards at the Royal Academy, Society of British Artists; New Watercolour Society and 32 paintings at the Grosvenor Gallery. She was the first woman to be elected RBA. Her work was also shown in Philadelphia in 1876 and at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1878. Her portrait of Samuel Smiles is in the National Portrait Gallery. A list of her best known pictures is given in Clayton, they are mainly portraits. Frames size: H: 64.5 (163.83cm) W: 49.75 (126.36cm) 12
AN EXTENDING REGENCY MAHOGANY DINING TABLE IN THE MANNER OF GILLOWS English Circa: 1820 A fine quality mahogany extending dining table in the manner of Gillows. The D-shaped end sections above a veneered frieze and raised tapering legs terminating in brass castors retaining the five original leaves and storage cabinet. H: 29.5 (74.93cm) L: 170 (432cm) (fully extended) D: 51.18 (130cm) 14
15
A RARE ANGLO-INDIAN IVORY INLAID ROSEWOOD WRITING BOX Vizagapatam Circa: 1740 The rectangular top inlaid overall with rich borders of exotic flower heads and scrolling foliage centred by a spray of flowers. The sides similarly inlaid and enclosing a fitted interior and a central compartment. The front with a shallow drawer with silver plated handles above shaped bracket feet. Literature: The British East India Company s rule in India was particularly strong in the south where there was a wealth of exotic materials. The British arrived in Vizagapatam, situated on the Coromandel Coast in 1668 and gained recognition for creating furniture of British taste from local materials such as ivory, rosewood and ebony. As the company grew, more British citizens were deployed to India s major towns. As a result, demand for furniture from this region of India increased dramatically and fundamentally changed the way the British lived in India. H: 8.5 (21.59cm) W: 20 (50.80cm) D: 13.5 (34.29cm) A REGENCY ROSEWOOD AND PARCEL GILT SIDE CABINET English Circa: 1810 A fine quality early nineteenth century rosewood and parcel gilt side cabinet of excellent colour and patina. The ebony and boxwood strung top with a border of satinwood, edged with a brass moulding with the original pierced gallery. The central double door with later diamond pattern grills with silk lining and enclosing adjustable shelves, with spiral gilded tapering columns raised on turned tapering feet. H: 34.25 (87cm) W: 37 (94cm) D: 19 (48.26cm) 16
AN ITALIAN PIETRA DURA TABLE FROM THE GRAND TOUR Italian Circa: 1840 A fine mid nineteenth century gilt and pietra dura centre table. The rectangular top depicting white doves perched on a quiver supported on an olive branch, rose and trumpet vine florals, within a gadrooned edge raised on a turned bulbous support with four acanthus leaves, moulded legs with scrolling feet. H: 31.5 (80cm) W: 28.5 (72.39cm) D: 20 (50.80cm) 18
A PAIR OF GEORGE III SATINWOOD CARD TABLES English Circa: 1790 An exceptionally fine pair of satinwood card tables the fold-over tops banded in satinwood and rosewood and with boxwood stringing, similarly banded freizes on square tapered legs inlaid panels and on splaid feet. H: 29 (73.66cm) W: 36 (91.44cm) D: 17.75 (45cm) A QUEEN ANNE BUREAU BOOKCASE English Circa: 1710 A superb Queen Anne burr walnut and feather banded bookcase of small size with excellent colour and patina. The rectangular carvetto-moulded cornice above a pair of bevelled mirrored doors, enclosing adjustable shelves and above a pair of candle slides. The base with full front enclosing a writing surface and fitted interior of drawers and pigeon-holes around a well above three graduating long drawers, on later bun feet. Provenance: Purchased from H.W.KEIL (Brook St.) London in 1971. H: 80 (203.2cm) W: 38.25 (97.12cm) D: 24 (60.96cm) 20
AN UNUSUALLY LARGE MID 18TH CENTURY PAINTED DUMMY BOARD FIGURE English Circa: 1750 A dummy board figure of a Grenadier of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 21st Foot Regiment, depicted in full uniform with a musket wearing a red and blue uniform and a pointed hat inscribed Royal. H: 84 (213.36cm) W: 41 (104.14cm) 22
A GEORGE IV SATINWOOD WHATNOT IN THE MANNER OF GILLOWS. English Circa: 1825 A fine satinwood whatnot, the four open tiers on reeded support and turned finials with brass caps and castors. H: 48.03 (122cm) W: 18.03 (45.72cm) D: 18.03 (45.72cm) 23
A PAIR OF MAGNIFICENT CHINESE CANTON FAMILLE ROSE VASES Chinese: Jiaqing period 1796 1820 An extremely rare pair of Chinese Canton famille rose vases and covers of square cross section on ormolu bases, the bodies finely decorated with panels of court scenes, the covers surmounted by a figure of a seated lady. AN EXQUISTE CEYLONESE SPECIMEN WOOD OCCASIONAL TABLE Ceylonese Circa: 1830 A fine Ceylonese ebony and specimen wood occasional table of small proportions, the circular top centred by an ivory medallion swirling radiating bands of specimen veneers including palm and satinwood with an ebony carved frieze above an elaborately carved tripod base. H: 22.5 (57.15cm) W: 22.5 (57.15cm) D: 30 (76.2cm) H: 24 (60.96cm) 24
AN UNUSUAL LACQUERED WRITING DESK IN THE CHINESE CHIPPENDALE STYLE English Circa: 1900 A fine lacquered and gilded three drawer writing desk in the Chinese Chippendale style attributed to Gill and Reigate limited, London. H: 30.25 (76.83cm) W: 42 (106.68cm) D: 24 (60.96cm) 26
A WALNUT CENTRE TABLE English Circa: 1860 A fine walnut and gilt metal mounted centre table, the lobbed top with flame centre within a marquetry and burr walnut border cross banded and goncalo alves moulded edge. The base with baluster turned stem and four turned fluted lotus carved supports on four down swept legs headed by gilt metal stylised flower heads, acanthus carved scroll feet. H: 27.56 (70cm) W: 54.33 (138cm) D: 42.13 (107cm) 27
A PAIR OF BRONZE SPHINXES French Circa: 1860 A pair of bronze sphinxes on rectangular white marble bases. H: 7 (17.78cm) W: 4 (10.16cm) D: 8.25 (20.95cm) 28
Photography by David Gadsby, dgphotography 07850 843075 www.dgphotography.co.uk Designed and printed by Pureprint Group 01825 768811 www.pureprint.com
MEMBER M&J Duncan Antiques PO Box 285, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 9EA Tel: +44 (0)1825 733584 Mobile: +44 (0)7968 141473 Web: www.mjduncan.com Email: antiques@mjduncan.com