Research:
Of finely figured mahogany. The upper section with restored broken triangular pediment and carved, molded cornice, the carving being a band of C-scrolls on a ribbed ground above a band of dentilling bordered by foliage, the cornice surmounting two pairs of geometrically-glazed cupboard doors, the doors flanked and divided by pilasters, each carved with floral pendants suspended from a ring, the ring attached to a carved volute beneath a carved flower-head, the base section with a low waist having a carved gadroon molding, above a Greek key frieze, the frieze containing four narrow drawers, above a ‘ribbon and rose’ band molding, the base containing four cupboard doors, these doors being centered with flame figured ‘fielded’ panels and having carved rosettes in each corner, the bookcase supported on a carved plinth base.
Provenance:
Probably Sir Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks Bt, 1st Baron Tweedmouth (d.1894), Brook House, Park Lane and Guisachan House, Inverness, Scotland.
By descent to Ishbel, 1st Marchioness of Aberdeen, (née Marjoribanks), Gordon House, Aberdeenshire.
Private collection, France.
Exhibited at Grosvenor House by Jeremy Ltd.
Literature:
Connoisseur, October 1940, John Bell of Aberdeen advertisement.
This magnificent architectural bookcase, with its exceptionally rich and intricate carving bears the distinctive hallmarks of the work of the celebrated Royal cabinet makers William Vile and John Cobb. Vile and Cobb were granted a Royal warrant in June 1761, and their supply of important furniture for the royal residences was directed by Sir William Chambers (d. 1796), who worked alongside Robert Adam as Architect to George III’s Office of Works.
Remarkably the bookcase was conceived as one of a pair, the other having most recently formed part of the collection at Sefton Lodge, Cambridgeshire. Given the massive cost of such a commission, together with the scale of interior necessary to house a pair of these bookcases, it seems certain that they were designed for one of the great library interiors of Georgian Britain.
Full research report available on request.