George III 150-year-old 'Doddington Hall' commode auctions at Bonhams

The rare George III commode is likely to have been one of only several pieces of furniture ever made

A George III commode by Henry Hill of Marlborough, which was almost certainly commissioned by Sir John Hussey Delaval in 1775 for his London residence, and which was, on his death, moved to the family seat, Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire, is to be sold at Bonhams.

It will auction at New Bond Street as part of Bonhams' Fine English Furniture and Works of Art Sale on Wednesday 19 October. After its whereabouts were unknown for eighty years, the commode is being offered with a pre-sale estimate of £100,000 - 150,000.

This piece has been attributed to the workshop of Henry Hill of Marlborough based on its striking stylistic similarities to a documented example by the same maker, which is now in a private collection, together with the evidence that Delaval was a known patron of Hill's.

George III commode commissioned by Sir John Hussey Delaval

The commode is likely to have been one of several pieces of furniture made for Delaval by Hill and delivered to Grosvenor House, Milbank, in 1776.

When Delaval moved to Hanover Square in 1780, it did not come with him. Instead it was transferred to one of the Delaval country residences, Seaton Delaval in Northumberland, where it is believed to have been placed in The Tapestry Room, the State Bedchamber or the State Dressing Room. Seaton Delaval has recently hit the headlines following its restoration by The National Trust.

On the death of Delaval in 1808, the commode was moved to another family residence, Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire, where it remained for 150 years, passing through the family by descent until it was sold in the early 20thcentury by Major Charles Francis Cracroft Jarvis (1875-1957).

It was bought by the present vendor in the 1970s from F. J. McCarthy of Nottinghamshire. We'll bring you an update on the sale's results when they happen.

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Images: Bonhams