Research
Of walnut, giltwood and gilt brass. The shaped flap with concealed handle to the lowest part. The flap opens in an upward direction. Fitted with four long drawers each with original gilt brass handles and escutcheons. Below the drawers is a retractable slide centered by a giltwood shell motif. The bottom half of undulating asymmetric form, is fitted with three shaped drawers mounted with original gilt brass rococo handles. The sides of paneled bombe form. The whole raised upon inturned giltwood rococo feet united by a carved apron. The sides with carved cartouches. Very old restoration to carving in places. A significant amount of original gilding to feet and apron present; some regilding.
Marks:
Label inside drawer reads ‘Hugh Hole’ with coat of arms and with handwritten inscription:
Photographs, MSS, Letters relating to SHF Hole.
Indistinct words written in blue chalk.
Provenance:
Hugh Hole, Esq., Caunton Manor, Nottinghamshire
Thence by descent to Sir Stephen Tallents and the Tallents family, Glendon, Wimborne Minster, Dorset.
This remarkable rococo period bureau, with its parquetry exterior and profuse giltwood enrichment to the apron and feet, includes an important and tantalizing clue as to its origin. Its beautifully crafted key bow is set with the letters JM and a royal crown, likely representing Queen Juliana Maria of Denmark (1729-1796). The bureau is much in keeping with the keynote taste of the Danish court in the earlier years of Juliana Maria’s reign, having typical giltwood feet and apron (an uncommon feature on furniture outside Danish territories), walnut parquetry and curvaceous movement.
The astonishing lines of the corpus of the bureau are here testing the skill and artistry of the cabinetmaker to the limits. Its shape resembles a giant shell form whose highly unorthodox reverse rising fall gives the impression of an opening mollusk. Aside from its remarkable exterior, even the drawer fronts and linings are of a pronounced undulating asymmetric form.
Full research report available on request.