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17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Escritoire, Circa 1680

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17th Century William and Mary Olive Oyster Marquetry Escritoire, Circa 1680

A remarkable and extremly rare William and Mary olive oyster and floral marquetry escritoire, concealing eight secret drawers, circa 1680. England.

Attributed to Thomas Pistor.

The cross-grain cavetto cornice sits over a cushion-moulded hidden drawer decorated with three panels of floral marquetry on a ground of ebony. The banded fall is centred by a large oval of olive oyster bookmatched veneers lined in box stringing and is beautifully decorated nearly entirely in floral marquetry on an ebony ground depicting spring flowers, birds with metal eyes, a butterfly, a tarza, and most unusually for English marquetry, a bumblebee. The fall opens on the original lock, hinges and straps to reveal a silk writing surface and an extensive arrangement of pigeon holes above holly banded oak lined olive oyster bookmatched drawers around a central cupboard, similarly veneered with the addition of box stringing.

Every other division between the pigeon holes can be pulled out to reveal a secret drawer. Once the central cupboard is open, you can remove a well-made cross-grain moulded box to reveal a further three drawers.The cross-grain waist moulded chest consists of two short and two long oak-lined graduating drawers, each banded, veneered in oysters of olive and inset with break arch marquetry panels on an ebony ground. Raised on bun feet.

Similarly, the holly banded sides are veneered in large bookmatched olive oysters.

It should be noted that the piece is in fine condition and retains extremely good colour and patination.

The Maker

There were in fact, two cabinet-makers called Thomas Pistor, father and son, working for a period at the same time but at different premises. One or both are known to have made furniture of quality for Levens Hall, which include a floral marquetry table.

From the 4-18 August 1950 Country Life ran a series of articles featuring what was then the recently rebuilt Buxted Park, a house reconstructed by the architect Basil Lonides following a serious fire and in one of the illustrations a kingwood escritoire is visible. Subsequently, Christopher Gilbert commented in ‘The Dictionary of Marked London Furniture’, Leeds, 1996, p.44 that a “highly important kingwood fall-front cabinet inscribed ‘Thomas Pistor, Ludgate Hill, London’, formerly owned by the Hon. Basil Ionides, unfortunately, remains untraced. It was amongst the Buxted Park furniture at Sotheby’s, 25 September 1963, lot 168 (withdrawn)…”. The whereabouts of this escritoire remain unknown and further details of how the pieces are marked remain uncertain.

The overall profile and proportions of the Buxted escritoire conform to that of this escritoire.

Condition

Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor structural damages. Excellent condition and colour. The interior handles and escutcheons appear to be original. Later exterior handles.

Dimensions

Height: 156.5 cm (61.62 in)
Width: 108 cm (42.52 in)
Depth: 47 cm (18.51 in)

PREVIOUSLY SOLD

William and Mary Kingwood or ‘Princes’ wood oyster cabinet on chest

When the most expensive timber of the 17th century met Thomas Pistor. There were, in fact, two cabinet-makers called Thomas Pistor, father and son, working for a period at the same time but at different premises. One or both are known to have made furniture of quality for Levens Hall.

17th Century William and Mary Kingwood Strongbox

A 17th century William and Mary Kingwood strongbox, with gilt brass straps. This strongbox has to be one of the most charming and certainly the smallest example we have encountered, at just 17.5 cm high, 28 cm wide and 18 cm deep. A strongbox of similar merit form and style resides at Burghley House in ‘The 1st George State Room.

William and Mary Seaweed Marquetry Strong Box Firmly Attributed to Gerrit Jensen

A 17th century William and Mary seaweed or arabesque marquetry strong box, with firm attribution to the royal cabinetmaker, Gerrit Jensen, circa 1680-1700, England.

18th Century George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest or Commode

A fine George III mahogany serpentine commode, England, circa 1770. Attributed to Henry Hill, Marlborough. The three graduated drawers retain their original gilt brass handles over a unique carved apron and flanked by moulded angles continuing into the shaped cabriole feet.

William and Mary Olive Oyster Lace Box

Fabulous 17th-century olive oyster ‘lace box’. ‘Lace boxes’ were popular amongst the middle and higher classes of society from C.1660-1700. The olive oyster box we have for offer here is a lovely original and unusually small example, at just 12″ wide. This form dates from circa 1680-1700.

George III Mahogany Serpentine Chest of Drawers

Georgian perfection, 18th century George III mahogany serpentine chest of drawers with brushing slide, fabulous reeded columns and retaining superb original age patinated surface. Choice cuts of flame mahogany veneer sit below the brushing-slide to the four oak lined cock-beaded graduating drawers, which are fitted with their original gilt swan-neck handles, skeleton escutcheons and locks.

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