An Exceptional Regency Period Side Cabinet in the Manner of George Oakley, c. 1810

Retaining its original ormolu mounted marble top this side cabinet is a “tour de force” of Regency design and execution, with very fine gilt mounts and beautifully mellowed rosewood.
It is rare to find these pieces retaining their original marble work.

English, London c. 1810

Provenance:
Jeremy Ltd. Lowndes St. London, c. 1980s and then again in 2001. Chosen as Jeremy’s featured piece for illustration in the Grosvenor House Antiques Fair handbook for 2001
American Private Collection, Massachusetts, acquired from the above

This cabinet with its particularly fine proportions, exceptional ormolu mounts and original marble top relates to a series of pieces produced by the cabinet maker George Oakley. Oakley’s clients included the Royal family and many other titled families of the time and his work is distinguished by its successful fusion of Egypomania and more obvious Regency staples such as the use of rosewood contrasted with brass inlay.

The Egyptian head mounts on our cabinet relate to mounts used on a series of small cabinets that are firmly attributed to Oakley. One of these cabinets, offered by Mallett Antiques and illustrated in the catalogue “The Age of Matthew Boulton: Masterpieces of Neo-Classicism” and previously illustrated in the Grosvenor House Antiques Fair Handbook for 1986 was sold by Freeman’s of Philadelphia in 2013:

A fine side cabinet with commode, also with original white marble top, is illustrated by Frances Collard in her book Regency Furniture:

This piece features very similar Egyptian head mounts once again.

Research and Essay by Christopher Coles

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