CIRCA 1760

This English rococo pier glass, conceived in the George II French ‘pittoresque’ manner, is closely related to a drawing dated 1755-60 by the pre-eminent cabinet-maker and designer John Linnell (1729-96) (illustrated in H. Hayward, 'The Drawings of John Linnell in the Victoria and Albert Museum', Furniture History, 1969, vol. V, fig. 46). A related pair of mirrors was sold from the Estate of Doris Merrill Magowan, at Christie’s, New York, 22 May 2002, lot 210 ($185,500 inc. premium). Thomas Chippendale (1718-1779) was also including comparable ‘Designs for Glass Frames’ in the third edition of his Director (1762 see plate CLXVII). A mirror formerly in the collection of Lord Methuen from Corsham Court, Wiltshire, and later with Moss Harris is also closely related (M. Harris and Sons, A Catalogue and Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Art, part II, c. 1930, p. 235). Furthermore, the Scottish ‘wright’ William Mathie of Cockenzie (fl. 1733-60), whose oeuvre was directly influenced by Chippendale’s designs, has been attributed as the maker of another related pair of pier glasses, sold Christie’s, London, 21 May 2015, lot 50 (£98,500 inc. premium).