Antique Victorian Satin Birch Chest of Drawers from Holland & Sons, 1880

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A very fine, highly collectable Satin Birch two over three chest of drawers made by the legendary firm of Holland … Read more A very fine, highly collectable Satin Birch two over three chest of drawers made by the legendary firm of Holland & Sons. These drawers are super decorative and look expensive and important in any setting, when the light catches them just right they glow! The timber is Satin Birch which is warm and golden, they are stamped on the top left drawer Holland & Son's and all the locks are signed with the Royal Warrant Condition wise, they have been cleaned waxed and polished all over, there is some light timber losses to the back left, general patina marks all over and one of the middle drawers has some chisel indentations / cuts, otherwise they are in very fine order indeed Dimensions Height:- 98cm Width:- 107cm Depth:- 58cm The English firm of Holland & Sons (1803–1942) became from 1843 one of the largest and most successful cabinet makers, and a rival to Gillows of Lancaster and London. The company's labelled Day books are now housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum Archive of Art and Design where they present a virtual "who's who" of nineteenth century society. The company was established in 1803 by Stephen Taprell and William Holland, a relation of the architect Henry Holland. Always on the leading edge of fashion, Holland & Sons employed some of England's foremost designers and participated in all of the International Exhibitions of 1851, 1855, 1862, 1867, 1872 and 1878. Holland and Sons also participated in many of the leading international exhibitions including London in 1862, Vienna in 1873 and Paris in 1867 and 1872. After a brief period in which the company was known as Taprell, Holland & Son c.1835-43, William Holland gained sole command after the senior partner Taprell's retirement. from 1843 onwards they were known as Holland and Sons. The relationship between builder and cabinet maker is similar to another leading Victorian firm, Trollope and Sons. Their earliest known commission was to furnish the Athenaeum Club, London, 1824- 1838. They also worked alongside the prestigious firm of Thomas Dowbiggin at Osborne House, and eventually took over their premises and business at 23 Mount Street, London in 1851 and 1853 respectively. In 1851, when the company was based in Mount Street and employed 351 people, they won a prize at the Great Exhibition for a bookcase. By then, after being granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment (United Kingdom) early in the reign of Queen Victoria, they had already taken a leading part in the decoration and furnishing of Osborne House, Sandringham House, Balmoral Castle, Windsor Castle and the apartments of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Marlborough House, executing numerous exceptional pieces of furniture. Holland and Sons also executed over three hundred separate commissions for the British Government, including the Palace of Westminster, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and oversaw the State funeral of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. One of their celebrated private commissions was a suite of bedroom furniture for the late Sir Harold Augustus Wernher, 3rd Baronet at Luton Hoo. During the latter half of the 19th century, Holland and Sons also supplied furniture for such notable London clubs as the Reform Club and the Oxford and Cambridge Club. They shared the commission for the new Palace of Westminster with Gillows. Condition Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the around condition Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of cracking creasing and wear, we recommend regular waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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