An exceptional pair of George I scarlet Japanned bureau bookcases by John Belchier

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An exceptional pair of George I scarlet Japanned bureau bookcases by John Belchier
An exceptional pair of George I scarlet Japanned bureau bookcases by John Belchier ( England 1720 )

Dimensions

110.50cm wide 295.00cm high 70.00cm deep (43.50 inches wide  116.14 inches high  27.56 inches deep)

Provenance

Possibly commissioned by Sir Jacob de Bouverie, 1st Viscount Folkestone 1694-1761 and by descent to his son John, 1st Earl of Radnor at Longford Castle, Wiltshire or Coleshill, Berkshire;
One in the collection of Hon. Mrs Edward Pleydell Bouverie d.1951 until sold by her trustees at Christie's London, 1957, lot 288; and acquired by;
Mallett & Son (Antiques) Ltd, London by whom sold to;
Private collection, England,
The other bureau bookcase passing to a private collection in Spain until being sold allowing for the pair to be reunited.

Literature

Frank Davis, ‘A Picture History of English Furniture’, London, 1958, illus. 217
One shown Mallett & Son trade advertisement 'Connoisseur', 1958.
G. Willis, ‘English Furniture 1550-1760’ London, 1971, p. 135, fig 105.
C. Gilbert, 'Marked London Furniture', Leeds, 1996, p. 86, illus. 68.

Description / Expertise

Reference: 4419211
An important and extremely rare pair of early 18th century scarlet japanned bureau bookcases by John Belchier, the upper section with a broken pediment centred by a later carved giltwood flaming urn finial, above two rectangular doors inset with shaped panels and later bevelled mirror plates, each door with a brass escutcheon, the scarlet japanned interior with three adjustable shelves above ten pigeon holes and four short drawers, the fall front with two lozenge cartouches decorated with figures amongst exotic buildings and a scene of courtly figures playing music within a landscape, the fall opening to reveal a fitted interior with a range of drawers, pigeon holes centred around a central small cupboard, above two short and three graduated long drawers, with brass escutcheons and handles with engraved back plates, raised on sweeping ogee bracket feet. One signed bearing the trade label of John Belchier. One with later feet.

English, circa 1730

This outstanding surviving pair of scarlet japanned bureau bookcases is possibly unique in Britain. They are not only signed by the maker, a great rarity in English furniture, but are associated with one of the most distinguished collections that of the Pleydell Bouverie family, who as the Earls of Radnor were resident at Longford Castle, Wiltshire and Coleshill, Berkshire.

Lacquer furniture was gradually imported into Europe from Japan from the late sixteenth century at great cost and was highly prized for its mysterious manufacture and exotic form. Merchants had already been bringing back highly valued spices, silks and porcelain, from China, however, it was the lacquer that the cabinet makers were fascinated by and they soon began to try and recreate the rich and striking surfaces. Charles II had already affirmed the high status of japanned objects by ordering a magnificent chest of ‘Japan work’ from Gerreit Jensen for the Emperor of Morocco in 1680.