Bonhams
Lot 356
A rare and highly impressive Charles II cocus-wood, veneered on oak, scriptor, circa 1665Oyster-veneered throughout, the cyma-recta cornice made from the solid, the fall enclosing a sophisticated fitted interior, namely a row of 'pigeon-holes', over nine drawers, centred by a cupboard enclosing three rear drawers, with a further pigeon hole below, all within half-round mouldings applied to the carcase rails and drawer dividers, the stand with a long frieze drawer, raised on five spiral-turned legs, joined by concave-shaped platform stretchers, bun feet, 102cm wide x 49cm deep x 149cm high, (40in wide x 19in deep x 58 1/2in high)Footnotes:For a scriptor of similar date, see the collection at Ham House, Surrey (NT1139736.1). Made for the Duke of Lauderdale's private closet, using burr-elm veneers, with a comparable fitted interior. The stand also with spiral-turned legs.For a celebrated pair of cocus wood veneered cabinets see Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Collection, Windsor Castle, Berkshire (RCIN 35297). At least one of the cabinets was made for Henrietta Maria (1609-1669), widow of Charles I and mother of Charles II, and probably formed part of the dowager Queen's furnishings at Somerset House, London. Dr Adam Bowett refers to the cabinets as a 'tours de force of cabinet-making' with 'no compelling reason to doubt their English manufacture', see English Furniture 1660-1714, p. 40. A cocus wood cabinet-on-stand is illustrated Ibid., p.54, pl. 2.35. For a description of cocus wood, or Jamaican ebony, and its use by English cabinet makers from the 1660s onwards see ibid. p. 307. The author notes that it is rare to find cocus wood used after 1680. 'By this time olivewood, walnut and marquetry were more common', p. 54.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
