High Quality Holland & Sons Dressing Table and Chest C. 1850

An extremely fine quality and original early George I chest on stand. Principally of a rich oak flecked with pale medullary rays and with rare and beautiful laburnum crossbanding to...

A very fine Regency example, in solid coromandel of a superb colour. The dark brown/black grain highlighted with creams and golds which run in natural stripes all over the box, Coromandel was a much prized exotic timber imported into the London docks and was usually used in small sections of veneer only due to the high cost of this wood. Here it is used in the solid and has developed a good patina. A further high quality detail is that solid brass string inlays have been added – a double band to the top and front – which sets off the Coromandel very well and is all inlaid by hand. The central brass reserve to the top and brass escutcheon are shaped as open flower heads and are original also. The box retains its original working steel key and opens on original hinges to reveal the writing slope. This is inset with a new black leather skiver with gold tooled border. The original skiver was black but was damaged and torn so we have replaced it with an identical skiver and matching gold tooling. The inner writing slope is solid mahogany and it locks into the top of the box with small brass slide bolts. With the bolts released the slope folds and there is a small compartment beneath the slope in both sections of the box – perfect for storing paper and envelopes. There is also a compartment for inkwells and quill pens. A quill pen is designed to rest in an ebonised mahogany curved boat which is removable. It may seem strange to us now that feather and quill...

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very fine, highly collectable Satin Birch two over three chest of drawers made by the legendary firm of Holland & Son's Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price. These drawers are super decorative and look expensive and important in any setting, when the light catches them just right they glow! The timber is Satin Birch which is warm and golden, they are stamped on the top left drawer Holland & Son's and all the locks are signed with the Royal Warrant Condition wise, they have been cleaned waxed and polished all over, there is some light timber losses to the back left, general patina marks all over and one of the middle drawers has some chisel indentations / cuts, otherwise they are in very fine order indeed Dimensions Height:- 98cm Width:- 107cm Depth:- 58cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask. The English firm of Holland & Sons (1803–1942) became from 1843 one of the largest and most successful cabinet makers, and a rival to Gillows of Lancaster and London. The company's labelled Day books are now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum Archive of Art and Design where they present a virtual "who's who" of nineteenth century society. The company was established in 1803 by Stephen Taprell and William Holland, a relation of the architect Henry Holland. Always on the leading edge of fashion, Holland & Sons employed some of England's foremost designers and participated in all of the International Exhibitions of 1851, 1855, 1862, 1867, 1872 and 1878. Holland and Sons also participated in many of the leading international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873 and Paris in 1867 and 1872. After a brief period in which the company was known as Taprell, Holland & Son c.1835-43, William Holland gained sole command after the senior partner Taprell's retirement. From 1843 onwards they were known as Holland and Sons. The relationship between builder and cabinet maker is similar to another leading Victorian firm, Trollope and Sons. Their earliest known commission was to furnish the Athenaeum Club, London, 1824- 1838. They also worked alongside the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin at Osborne House, and eventually took over their premises and business at 23 Mount Street, London in 1851 and 1853 respectively. In 1851, when the company was based in Mount Street and employed 351 people, they won a prize at the Great Exhibition for a bookcase. By then, after being granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom) early in the reign of Queen Victoria, they had already taken a leading part in the decoration and furnishing of Osborne House, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and the apartments of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House...

Charming miniature chest of drawers in original patina, circa 1850.