A workshop drawing of a similar commode survives in a collection of Gomm designs in the library of the Henry Francis du Pont museum at Winterthur, while at least six commodes of this type formed part of a full suite of furniture supplied by William Gomm & Son to Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire in 1763.
A number of these 183 pieces, for which the 5th Lord Leigh paid £818 9s, remained at Stoneleigh until 1981.
Phipps Provenance
This example, offered for sale on October 5 at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury, was formerly in the collection of New Yorker John Shaffer Phipps (1874-1958) and came by descent to the present owner. Measuring 3ft 10in (1.18m) wide, it includes a fitted top drawer with its slide lined in leatherette for brushing of clothes or a surface for writing.
Estimated at £15,000-20,000, it sold to a London dealer bidding via thesaleroom.com for £28,000.
A very similar commode, with alterations, was sold by Sotheby’s New York as part of the Hascoe family collection in January 2011 for a premium-inclusive $32,500 (£21,103).
Gomm’s shop at Clerkenwell Court is chiefly remembered for its association with Abraham Roentgen. It was here where the famous German cabinet maker found a work experience placement during his time in London in the 1730s.
The commode was pictured on the front cover of Woolley & Wallis’ furniture and works of art catalogue that was 80% sold for a premium-inclusive total of £467,680.
The buyer’s premium was 22%.
