William III Baroque Carved Giltwood Settee

An exceptional William III Baroque carved giltwood settee commissioned by Sir Thomas Osborne, Bt., 1st Duke of Leeds (1632-1712) either for his house at Wimbledon, Surrey or for Kiveton Park, Yorkshire.

This giltwood settee is the key piece from a larger suite of furniture which is decorated with wonderful carved gilt gesso decoration in the Baroque taste and is clearly inspired by the designs of Daniel Marot (1661-1752).

The careers of Daniel Marot and Thomas Osborne were both inextricably intertwined with the ascendancy of William III to the English throne. Osborne was one of seven politicians involved in the Glorious Revolution who wrote to William of Orange inviting him to ascend the throne of England. For his support Osborne was rewarded with the Dukedom of Leeds in 1694 and the suite may have been commissioned to celebrate his elevation. Marot, a huguenot emigre was instrumental in bringing the Baroque style to the Court of William of Orange. Marot is associated with the remodelling of the interiors of Het Loo Palace, Amsterdam and the redecoration of Hampton Court in the lavish Baroque style.

The settee is probably by the royal upholderer Philip Guibert who is recorded as working in St. James's, London from 1692-1739. He is the only cabinet-maker or upholsterer who appears in the account books of the Duke of Leeds and his work for the Royal Court (at Windsor and Kensington Palace) would have given him first hand knowledge of Marot's work.

Please contact Peter Alexander for more in depth research, and a full condition report.

The giltwood settee's upholstered arched back and scrolling arms above a cushioned seat; raised on beautifully carved legs which have flared facets ornamented with flowers and strapwork above boldly scrolling bifurcated feet to the front and swept legs decorated with panels of strapwork to the rear united by moulded, scrolled X-stretchers with beaded ornament and centred by an urn finial. The sette retains much of its original carved gilt gesso decoration and is now upholstered in gaufraged blue velvet.

Provenance

Sir Thomas Osborne, Bt., 1st Duke of Leeds (1632-1712) commissioned either for his house at Wimbledon, Surrey or for Kiveton Park, Yorkshire.

Thence by descent to George Godolphin Osborne, 10th Duke of Leeds (d.1927), Hornby Castle, Yorkshire

There were a sequence of sales at Hornby Castle in the 1920s which were unrecorded.

The majority of the suite:

Anonymous sale, Christie's London, February 16, 1956, lot 98, from the collection of the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Cadogan M. C.

Collection du Baron de Rede, Provenant De L'Hotel Lamert, Sotheby's Paris, March, 16, 2005

Collection of Gela Nash-Taylor and John Taylor, South Wraxall Manor, Wiltshire

Two further armchairs from the suite are recorded:

The first sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, November 17, 1989, lot 31 and again on April 22, 1994, lot 41

The second (formerly one of a pair) sold from the Wernher Collection, Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, Christie's London, July 5, 2000, lot 70

Literature

Patrice Boussel (1979) Les Styles du Moyen Age a Louis XIV, pg. 140, fig.2

Claude Fregnac and Wayne Andrews (1979) The Great Houses of Paris, pp. 77-78

(1967) Great Interiors, pg. 37

J. B. Naudin and C. de Nicolay-Mazery (1999) Visite Privee, pg. 26

J. Badesdale and J. Rocque (1739) Vitruvius Britannicus, Vol. IV, pls. 11-18

Percy Macquoid (1905) A History of English Furniture, The Age of Walnut: Suite A pg. 70 fig. 6, pl. VI, pg. 114, fig. 108; Suite C pg. 75, fig. 72, pg. 114; Suite D pg. 113 fig. 107

Charles Latham (1907) In English Homes, 'Hornby Castle', pg. 85

Christie's (1920) Fine old English Furniture, Continentals Porcelain, Old English Silver, the Property of His Grace The Duke of Leeds

Christopher Gilbert (1978) Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall: Suite B pp. 264-7, items 332 and 323.

Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert (1986) The Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840

Geoffrey Beard (1997) Upholsterers and Interior Furnishing in England 1530-1840

Adam Bowett (2002) English Furniture 1660-1714 From Charles II to Queen Anne: Suite A, Frontispiece, Suite B pl. 8.25, pg. 244

Terry Friedman and Derek Linstrum, Country Life (February 8, 1973) A Tour of Architectural Splendours pp. 334-6