Richard Gardner Antiques 

Having been established in Petworth, West Sussex for some fifteen years and now with six large showrooms, Richard Gardner is able to offer an extensive collection of fine furniture from the William & Mary period, right through to some of the highest quality Edwardian furniture.






Richard Gardner writes...


The end of the 17th century saw the introduction of walnut furniture which has the advantage of being able to fit into the oak beamed cottage and the fine period home, together with our more modern homes. There are some marvellous examples of cupboards, chest of drawers, tables, etc on the market today, with colour and size being the main points in determining value.

The mid 18th century saw the introduction of mahogany into the country, which coincided with the disappearence of walnut which had been extensively used as a timber for furniture in this country and Europe, especially in the Netherlands. Also, you saw the introduction of design books by some of the finest makers, including Chippendale, Sheraton, Hepplewhite, etc, enabling everyone in the country access to the finest designs.

The Regency period saw a more flamboyant style being introduced alongside the traditional elegant Georgian style and these two ran in tandem for a number of years.


By the mid 19th century the Victorian style had become well established with a much heavier look combined with a period of mass production which sometimes resulted in a reduction of quality, although there are exceptions to this.

The end of the 19th century and into the begining of the early 20th century saw a revival of the early elegant style of furniture making, using many of the Sheraton designs from the 18th century.

The Edwardian period is probably the last in which some of the highest quality pieces were made and we will happily have these in stock if we are able to locate them.

As you can see, we carry an extensive range covering a 225 year period and it is interesting to see this selection in one showroom, enabling you to chart the changes in timber, style, etc, over this period.

 

Regular glossy magazine publications of latest acquisitions are available on request.  Email versions also available.  To be included in these mailing lists please contact the showroom.

Richard Gardner Antiques
Market Square
Petworth
West Sussex
GU28 0AH

Tel +44 (0)1798 343411
www.richardgardnerantiques.co.uk

Images:

William & Mary oyster olivewood chest

Circa 1690
H: 30¾ in / 78 cm
W: 33¼ in / 84½ cm
D: 21 in / 53½ cm
Stock Number: 01141a/sum08
£55,000

Superb William and Mary oyster olivewood four drawer chest of unusually small proportions, the top inlaid with circles and banded with olivewood with a rounded cross grained moulded edge, above four graduated drawers each with an olivewood cross-banding and divided with cross grained ‘D’ mouldings, each side with a broad cross banding enclosing a panel of tightly packed oyster veneers, all above a cross grained ogee bottom moulding and raised on turned bun feet.
Small oyster chests of this period most commonly contain only three drawers of two short top drawers above two long and would have stood upon a raised stand. It would appear that this example was always intended to stand on turned feet, and this fact, combined with the outstanding quality of veneers and craftsmanship mark it out as a true rarity.

Important George III mahogany tallboy in the manner of Robert Gillow

Circa 1760
H: 86¾ in / 220½ cm
W: 48¼ in / 122½ cm
D: 24¼ in / 61½ cm
Stock Number: ta148/sum08
£77,500

Important George III mahogany tallboy in the manner of Robert Gillow, the upper section with an architectural pediment with dentil decoration and with scrolling pierced fretwork infill, above two short and three long drawers each veneered in finely figured mahogany with cock-beaded edges and fitted with the finest fire gilded rococco handles and escutcheons flanked by canted corners with fine split turned and fluted columns, the lower section fitted with a brushing slide over three long drawers, all raised on ogee bracket feet.

A most unusual, and possible unique feature of this tallboy is the hand drawn chalk design for a Chippendale ladderback chair visible in full scale on the inside of the backboards of the lower section. The backboards would appear to have been in place since the date of construction, which would indicate that the cabinet-maker drafted the design on the pine boards, possibly for the approval of the client, and then fitted the boards to the tallboy without erasing the image. We are not aware of any other example of a life drawn 18th century furniture design of this type and is an important historical document in its own right.
We are privileged to have been able to acquire this second piece of important English furniture from the Prevost family (see important Chippendale Linen Press sold from our Spring 2008 brochure, pages 24-27).
As detailed in our previous brochure, the Prevosts were a hugely influential military family throughout the 18th and early 19th centuries, affecting the histories of England, America and France. Major General Augustin Prevost (b1725 - d1786) served with Wolfe at Quebec and by 1775 was in command of the British forces during the American War of Independence, leading his 60th Regiment to victory at Briar Creek and the defence of Savannah.

Wellington during the Peninsula Campaign of 1811. His son, George, was born in Hackensack, New Jersey and joined the British army at the age of 14, making Captain in 1784. He was given command of St Vincent in 1794 and became Governor General of Dominica from 1802-1805. It was during this command that the French Fleet under Admiral Villeneuve raided the island and after a tactical withdrawal, Prevost managed to send vital intelligence on the size and date of departure of the French to Nelson prior to the Battle of Trafalgar. He was made Baronet in 1805, Governor of Nova Scotia in 1808 and appointed Governor General of British North America and Commander in Chief of British Forces in 1812.
Provenance

By descent through direct family line: First with Major General Augustin Prevost at his residence, East Barnet London 1768-1780 Then: Outland Park, Weybridge (leased from The Duke of York) 1780-86 By descent to his son Lt General Sir George Prevost, 1st Baronet, Belmont House, Hampshire By descent to the family residence, The Manor, Stitchcombe 1834-39 Then: Brookbank, Shotterhill, Haslemere previously the residence of the Gilchrist family, (where George Elliot resided during ill health and wrote Middlemarch) Then: Returned to The Manor, Stitchcombe. Bequeathed to Lucy Wood Purchased from Lucy Wood by Richard Gardner Antiques in 2008 We would like to thank Lucy and John Wood for their generous help in obtaining details of their family history and for allowing the reproduction of the original portrait of Lt General Sir George Prevost in Lucy Wood’s possession.

Superb Regency Breakfront Side Cabinet

Circa 1820
H: 37½ in / 95½ cm
W: 72 in / 183 cm
D: 18½ in / 47 cm
Stock Number: ta127/1107
£39,500

A superb Regency period breakfront side cabinet veneered overall in highly figured rosewood, the top with a three quarter brass gallery, above four silk and brass grilled doors flanked by turned and reeded columns, raised on lobed turned feet.
In the manner of Gillows of Lancaster. One shelf inscribed ‘Purvis’ in pencil.

A fine 19th Century burr elm Dutch display cabinet.

Circa 1880
H: 68 in / 172½ cm
W: 47½ in / 120½ cm
D: 17¾ in / 45 cm
Stock Number: jp5325/1008
£22,000

A fine 19th Century burr elm Dutch display cabinet, the upper section with fretwork gallery with ebonised ball finials above a moulded cornice over three doors with applied glazing bars, the lower section with a central drawer and cupboard with marquetry urns and drapes, and the figure of Eros in the centre, flanked by Anglo panel inlaid with classical urns, raised on tapering feet.

Bearing the trade label of “Druce & Co”, Baker Street, Portman Square, London (Retailers)