Y‡ AN EARLY VICTORIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED AND FLORAL MARQUETRY BUREAU, CIRCA 1840

Y‡ AN EARLY VICTORIAN ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, INDIAN ROSEWOOD, WALNUT AND FLORAL MARQUETRY BUREAU PLAT PROBABLY SUPPLIED BY EDWARD HOLMES BALDOCK, CIRCA 1840 The shaped rectangular top with a gilt-tooled brown leather-lined top above a conforming frieze with three drawers, on cabriole legs headed by pierced foliate and C-scroll clasps, reeded chutes and sabot feet, the underside branded EHB and with G. TROLLOPE & SONS label, hand-written A.SA/ 319 label 75cm high, 123cm wide, 64cm deep Provenance: Anonymous sale Christie's, London, 1 April 2014, lot 387 Acquired from Butchoff Antiques, London by the present owner During the 19th century elegant Louis XV style bureaux plats became popular furnishings in British drawing rooms. This example, displaying high quality floral marquetry, well-burnished bronze mounts and a fine mellow colour and patina bears the branded initials of Edward Holmes Baldock, one of the most influential figures in the London art market in the first half of the 19th century. Established in the early 19th century with premises in Hanway Street, London, in 1805 he described himself as a dealer in china and glass, but by 1826 his bill head records that he specialised in `buying, selling, exchanging and valuing China, Cabinets, Screens, Bronzes etc'. He also undertook repairs, alterations and improvements to existing furniture, provided designs for and even made new furniture, though evidence of the latter is scant and he may well have contracted out such work in the manner of the Parisian marchands-merciers. His patrons included royalty and the wealthy aristocracy and when he retired from business in 1843 his stock was sold, including work in progress and part-complete antiques, many bearing his brand. Examples of his work, including an English marquetry centre table supplied to the Duke of Buccleuch, are illustrated in C. Gilbert, Pictorial Dictionary of Marked London Furniture 1700 - 1840, Leeds, 1996, pp. 76 - 80, figs. 39 - 50. George Trollope was part of a family firm of decorators, established by 1820 at 15 Parliament Street, London, as paper hangers; ten years later they advertised themselves as `house agents, paper hangers, upholsterers, carvers, gilders, house-painters and glaziers to His Majesty, and by 1850 they appear to have added `cabinet-makers' to their talents. It's possible that Trollope supplied the table to Baldock prior to his retirement in 1843, but more likely that they acquired the table later for one of their own prestigious patrons. Condition Report: Good, structurally secure with dents marks and scratches and shrinkage cracks due to age and use. The leather top with some marks and impressed heat rings but generally good. The central drawer is tight and might benefit from easing. Overall in good, clean and honest condition and ready to use. Condition Report Disclaimer