Bonhams
Lot 486
An early Victorian ormolu mounted tulipwood, walnut and marquetry writing table in the Louis XV stylealmost certainly originally retailed by Edward Holmes Baldock (1777-1845), possibly made by Robert Blake & SonsCirca 1840, inlaid with assorted flowers and foliage, the shaped rectangular top inset with a tooled leather writing surface and with a moulded brass mounted edge, above a shaped frieze comprising one long and two short oak-lined drawers, on cabriole legs, 125cm wide x 65cm deep x 75cm high, (49in wide x 25 1/2in deep x 29 1/2in high)Footnotes:A virtually identical writing table to the present lot, dated circa 1835, sold Christie's, 1 April 2014, Style and Spirit, lot 387. That particular model, which was branded with the initials: 'EHB' - for the renowned figure of Edward Holmes Baldock - was either executed, or perhaps more likely subsequently retailed, by the firm of G. Trollope and Sons.Another closely comparable example, also having the 'EHB' brand to its underside, sold Bonhams, New Bond Street, 11 March 2009, Fine English Furniture, lot 114.Edward Holmes Baldock is listed in London Trade Directories of the period in various capacities. He first appears listed at 7 Hanway Street, London in 1805 described as a '...dealer in china and glass' and by 1821 as '...an antique furniture and ornamental furniture dealer'. By 1826 the various facets of the business included '...buying and selling, exchanging and valuing china, cabinets, screens, bronzes...' Baldock's business seems to have largely involved trading in foreign items and from 1832 to 1837 he was the purveyor of earthenware and glass to William IV, then later purveyor of china to Queen Victoria from 1838 until his death. Baldock is known to have repaired, remodelled and adapted furniture, often 18th century pieces, but he also designed furniture both in the 18th century style and in more contemporary styles. The pieces that appear with the 'EHB' cypher may have been made by him at his Hanway Street workshop but there is no documentary proof as to whether he both designed and manufactured them. Rather than being a straightforward manufacturer Baldock's activities link him more closely with the 18th century marchands-merciers such as Daguerre and Poirier.Interestingly, a further similar bureau plat is at Goodwood House, Sussex, but has the label for Messrs Blake of 8 Stephen Street, Tottenham Court Road rather than an 'EHB' brand. In the Furniture History Society Newsletter of May 2005 Martin Levy compares this table with another supplied to the Duke of Buccleuch by Baldock in 1841, this also has the 'EHB' stamp, the suggestion is that Baldock could have sub-contracted the work to the Blake family as there are obvious similarities in the output of the two firms.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TPTP Lot will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
