A Pair of George III Gilt Bronze Mounted Tulipwood, Burr Yew and Satinwood Marquetry Demilune Cabinets

Probably Irish, Circa 1790

with cedar-lined drawers and mahogany bottom boards, the ormolu boards probably later; minor differences in size.
Larger: height 37 x width 43 1/8 x depth 19 inches; smaller: height 37 x width 41 1/4 x depth 18 7/8 inches.

This lot is located in Chicago.

Provenance:

Lord Louth, Louth Hall, County Louth, Ireland

Partridge, London, 19 April 1994 (with invoice)

Note:

The design of these elegant cabinets, with their distinctive burr yew panels and delicate Neoclassical swag marquetry, closely relates to the work of Dublin cabinet-makers of the era. Though William Moore is perhaps the most-well known potential candidate, other cabinet-makers, such as John Wisdom, also employed the same pattern of burr yew panels on their documented work including a table supplied to Thomas Cobb at Newbridge (Glin and J. Peill, Irish Furniture, New Haven, 2007 p. 167, fig. 228). As the authors note, much has been attributed to William Moore without documented evidence (Ibid, p. 166) and indeed only two works have been substantiated as by Moore—a demilune commode supplied to William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (d. 1809) when Viceroy of Ireland around 1782 and a demilune Pianoforte inscribed 'W Moore', circa 1785, the only signed example of his work. The location of the signed example is currently unknown.