Commode at Christie's

On 17th November Christie's are holding an auction in London entitled The English Collector: English Furniture, Clocks and Portrait Miniatures.  Amongst the items for sale is a very attractive  Ince & Mayhew bowfront commode, with harewood, rosewood-crossbanding and inlaid satinwood.

What I especially like about it is that it has four graduated drawers, getting larger in size as they descend.  It is dated around 1770 and the estimate is £12,000 to £18,000.

There are strong similarities between this commode and ones at Broadlands supplied to Henry Temple, 2nd Viscount Palmerston, for the Book Room.  It has bell flowers in the marquetry and ebonised edge mouldings.  The ring handles are very similar to those on other commodes at Broadlands, and to an Ince & Mayhew commode sold by Christie's in 2007.