A late 17th century Flemish oak and lignum vitae buffet
£1,920
Auction: 26 September 2007 at 11:00 BST
Description
the rectangular top with crossbanded decoration and under-scrolled edge above a gadrooned cushion frieze with full width drawer and boldly carved lion mask capitals on five tapering lignum columns, the geometrically panelled cupboard doors enclosing a shelved and inlaid interior flanked by similarly panelled sides, on a skirted apron with cabochon frieze and projecting corners carved with cartouches, on boldly turned spherical feet
Dimensions
183 cm wide, 145 cm high, 76 cm deep
Footnote
Note: Reputedly, this example was purchased in the early 20th century from the Cheape family of Strathyrum, St Andrews, and once belonged to James Sharp, who was Archbishop of St Andrews from 1661 to 1679. It also appears that it was lodged for a period at St Andrews Castle. As a leader of the 'Resolutioners', he was captured in 1651 by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian forces and imprisoned until 1652. His repressive policy towards the Covenanters led to one failed assasination attempt, and a second in which his life was finally ended by a group of Covenanters on Magus Muir, outside St Andrews, who has in fact been waiting to kill someone else.
Literature: a buffet of similar form made in Antwerp circa 1620 is illustrated in 'World Furniture', Helena Hayward (Hamlyn: 1965), p55, fig. 164.