Wright & Mansfield (1861-1884); an Empire-style mahogany kneehole Bureau Plat of exhibition quality, the top with radiused corners and inset top (leather missing) fitted with four short and one long frieze drawer with corresponding faux drawers on the opposing side, each with ormolu swing handles with young merman detail and further gilt mounts throughout, fitted brushing slides to each end, supported on turned tapering and fluted legs with "Fletched" arrow moulding, terminating in simple collet feet. Bearing workshop stamps to the leading edge of the drawer fronts. 168 cm long x 79.5 cm deep x 77 cm overall height, 57 cm knee height

For further contextual information on this maker please follow the link below,

Wright and Mansfield

Credit: The Furniture History Society.

A private estate

Wright & Mansfield

Great Portland Street and Oxford Street, London; cabinet makers and upholsterers (fl.1861-1884)

Alfred Thomas Wright was probably born in Shoreditch in 1840, his father was paper stainer. From 1856 he was worked for and later a junior partner to Samuel Hanson, a cabinet maker and ‘antiquarian upholsterer’ of 16 John Street (later Great Portland Street) and 106½ Oxford Street.

In 1858, George Needham Mansfield (b. 1828-d. 1895), the son of George Mansfield, a builder and decorator of Gray’s Inn Lane and Wigmore Street, joined the firm which then traded as Hanson, Wright and Mansfield until Hanson’s death in 1861. Thereafter the firm traded as Wright and Mansfield.

They exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862 – where they won a first-class medal – and the accompanying catalogue by J. B. Waring included a full colour lithograph of an Erard piano in the ‘Adams’ style, together with a number of black and white illustrations of other furniture. The piano, which had been painted by Pincon and Prolisch, with the carving by R W Godfrey, (illus. Meyer (2006), p. 123), was bought by D. C. Marjoribanks, MP, of Guisachan House, Inverness-shire, and was part of a large commission of ‘Adams’ furniture made by the firm, the earliest so far documented. A particular feature of this cabinet furniture was the incorporation of Wedgewood plaques, including black basalt ware and the first documented use of Highland black cherry wood. Two cabinets, a candelabrum, clock and fireplace illus. The Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition, 1862, pp. 12 & 104.

The firm furnished the Marjoribanks family London home at Brook House (1867) and Haddo House, Aberdeenshire (1880s), belonging to the 7th Earl and Countess of Aberdeen (Lady Aberdeen’s father was D. C. Majoribanks). At the 1867 Paris Exhibition, Wright and Mansfield won the only gold medal for art furniture awarded to a British firm. Their satinwood cabinet with porcelain plaques, designed by Mr Crosse and made for the Exhibition, was sold to the South Kensington Museum

Credit: The Furniture History Society.

Condition Report

The area of leather is split but this does not extend through the cross-banding.

Four gilt metal inserts are missing from the legs, a small length of around 10 cm of gilt applique missing from the panel to the right-hand side of the kneehole on the "actual"l drawer side, three small holes (around 1.5 diam) to the top of each of the same panels on the opposite side, possibly former fixing holes from now vacant gilt appliques.

The tab of the key is broken but I have tied it to the remainder of the key.

The drawer fronts have some damage to borders.

Two legs have top beaded mouldings missing.

The left hand brushing slide has some movement through joint that will require glueing up to make good, it has caused a slight crack on the edge of the slide,

The right hand side brushing slide has a split across the slide and both sides will pull right out because the stop/peg is missing from each side

The right hand slide has some damage to the end facia

There is a shrinkage line on the surround of the top.

Please see the extra images that should mirror the points raised

The draw bottoms have some splits from shrinkage, the drawers are rather stiff and will need easing, the key that is present doesn't seem to throw the keeper of the lock.

Please see the extra images.