From a deceased estate in the Chew Valley, North Somerset, the chest had a cavetto cornice over three short and three long graduated drawers, all with ebony and boxwood line inlaid fronts and original swan neck handles. Measuring 3ft 5in (1.04m) wide, the whole sat on cabriole legs with trefid feet.
Despite the fairly light colour, the auctioneers felt the chest was not in particularly good condition and estimated it at £3000-5000. But the trade seemed to disagree and a West Country dealer battled it out against six phone lines to a winning £42,000 (plus 15% buyer’s premium).
George I burr walnut chest on stand
Brown furniture has proved hard to shift at auction in recent months but the success of this George I burr walnut chest on stand offered at the Bristol Auction Rooms on June 18 may signal the tide is turning.
