George IV Gilt-Metal and Porcelain Mounted, Gilt Composition and Tulipwood Secretaire Cabinet In the manner of Morel and Hughes, circa 1825 The rectangular top with a pierced gallery, above a drop front with three porcelain plaques within Neoclassical frames, the central one depicting flowers and flanked by a mythological scene and a bucolic scene, opening to a shelved interior and a velvet lined writing surface within a gilt-metal border, the projecting lower section with a frieze with laurel wreaths and pierced foliage, raised on lotus and roundel carved circular supports, the back fitted with a mirror, on a plinth with outset square corners and ending in front paw feet. Height 55 1/4 inches (1.40 m), width 39 1/4 inches (99.7 cm), depth 21 1/2 inches (54.6 cm). As described by Tim Knox, 'The Elusive Mr. Morel, Furniture History Journal, 2015, pp. 175-178, 'the firm of Morel and Hughes is synonymous with the luxurious and sophisticated furnishing schemes of the Regency era'. Morel and Hughes supplied much furniture for Carlton House to the Prince of Wales, later George IV, and a circle of similar Francophiles, including the 1st Earl of Bradford at Weston Park, the Earl of Mansfield at Kenwood and the Dukes of Bedford and Buccleuch. They also worked with the Prince's architect, Henry Holland and the marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre (Nicholas) 'Morel had been a regular supplier of furniture to George IV from the 1790s, both on his own and with his partner, Robert Hughes with whom he joined forces in circa 1804 and remained in partnership until the Windsor commission (1826)'; see Hugh Roberts For the King's Pleasure The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London: Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd., 2001, p. 27. The firm's work is characterized by its richness of materials but, more importantly, its Anglicized version of contemporary Parisian taste. The present piece is a perfect example of these qualities: in its form, the simple secretaire interior section more typical of French examples with two shelves rather than the more elaborate interiors found in English fall front secretaires. Additionally, the embellishments of gilt-bronze mounts and gilt-composition ornamentation, the front with Paris porcelain plaques and tulipwood veneered on mahogany are all characteristics of an important, sumptuous commission. Morel and Hughes' most important project before the end of their partnership was their refurbishment of the rooms of the south wing of Northumberland House for the third Duke of Northumberland. The diarist and social observer, Mrs. Harriet Arbuthnot, who attended the opening of the rooms in May 1824 found them 'fine & magnificently decorated'; Roberts, op. cit., p. 28. C
Beautiful quality, with previous restorations, ormolu gallery slightly bent at right side, age cracks to left side panel, age cracks to drop front along lines of veneers of construction underneath, losses to applied gilt decoration, flanking, and surrounding, porcelain plaques, chips, and losses to gilded elements with later gilding, age cracks to veneers surrounding mirrored backrest, losses to composition elements of base, loose veneers to right of base.
George IV Gilt-Metal and Porcelain Mounted, Gilt Composition and Tulipwood Secretaire Cabinet In the manner of Morel and Hughes, circa 1825 The rectangular top with a pierced gallery, above a drop front with three porcelain plaques within Neoclassical frames, the central one depicting flowers and flanked by a mythological scene and a bucolic scene, opening to a shelved interior and a velvet lined writing surface within a gilt-metal border, the projecting lower section with a frieze with laurel wreaths and pierced foliage, raised on lotus and roundel carved circular supports, the back fitted with a mirror, on a plinth with outset square corners and ending in front paw feet. Height 55 1/4 inches (1.40 m), width 39 1/4 inches (99.7 cm), depth 21 1/2 inches (54.6 cm). As described by Tim Knox, 'The Elusive Mr. Morel, Furniture History Journal, 2015, pp. 175-178, 'the firm of Morel and Hughes is synonymous with the luxurious and sophisticated furnishing schemes of the Regency era'. Morel and Hughes supplied much furniture for Carlton House to the Prince of Wales, later George IV, and a circle of similar Francophiles, including the 1st Earl of Bradford at Weston Park, the Earl of Mansfield at Kenwood and the Dukes of Bedford and Buccleuch. They also worked with the Prince's architect, Henry Holland and the marchand mercier Dominique Daguerre (Nicholas) 'Morel had been a regular supplier of furniture to George IV from the 1790s, both on his own and with his partner, Robert Hughes with whom he joined forces in circa 1804 and remained in partnership until the Windsor commission (1826)'; see Hugh Roberts For the King's Pleasure The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London: Royal Collection Enterprises Ltd., 2001, p. 27. The firm's work is characterized by its richness of materials but, more importantly, its Anglicized version of contemporary Parisian taste. The present piece is a perfect example of these qualities: in its form, the simple secretaire interior section more typical of French examples with two shelves rather than the more elaborate interiors found in English fall front secretaires. Additionally, the embellishments of gilt-bronze mounts and gilt-composition ornamentation, the front with Paris porcelain plaques and tulipwood veneered on mahogany are all characteristics of an important, sumptuous commission. Morel and Hughes' most important project before the end of their partnership was their refurbishment of the rooms of the south wing of Northumberland House for the third Duke of Northumberland. The diarist and social observer, Mrs. Harriet Arbuthnot, who attended the opening of the rooms in May 1824 found them 'fine & magnificently decorated'; Roberts, op. cit., p. 28. C
Beautiful quality, with previous restorations, ormolu gallery slightly bent at right side, age cracks to left side panel, age cracks to drop front along lines of veneers of construction underneath, losses to applied gilt decoration, flanking, and surrounding, porcelain plaques, chips, and losses to gilded elements with later gilding, age cracks to veneers surrounding mirrored backrest, losses to composition elements of base, loose veneers to right of base.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
