An imposing antique oak dresser from an English country house steeped in history – and boasting a notable owner – is set for auction in December.
The centuries-old piece of furniture was purchased from a sale at Maer Hall, Staffordshire, in 1964. The large Grade II listed 17th century property and estate dominates the village of Maer near Newcastle-under-Lyme.
A manor house at Maer dates back to 1282. The present house was built around 1680 on a slope above a small lake, or ‘mere’. In the 18th century landscape designer Capability Brown altered the lake.
Maer Hall’s most famous owner was Josiah Wedgwood II (1769-1843), son of English potter Josiah Wedgwood. Josiah II continued his father’s firm and was Stoke’s MP from 1832-1835. His nephew, Charles Darwin, known for his theory of evolution, often visited Maer and married Josiah’s daughter Emma.
We will never know if these men used or saw this large George III oak dresser but the dates indicate it may have been a possibility. The two-plank base is circa 1860. However, a foliate scroll carving is inscribed ‘Owen Morgan 1743’.
Brimming with carved detail, it is a striking piece of furniture. It has a moulded cornice above a three-tier plate rack and is flanked by two cupboards with engraved doors featuring ebonised wood and boxwood inlay. A finely carved central cupboard is flanked by graduated draws with brass handles and animal carvings.
The oak dresser will be offered in Bishton Hall’s Christmas Fine Art Auction on December 6, lot 312, estimate £2,000-£4,000. Catalogue www.hansonslive.co.uk. To arrange a free furniture valuation, email: [email protected].
CLICK HERE to view the December 6 Bishton Hall Christmas Fine Art Auction Catalogue.
Free valuations are available every week at Hansons’ Staffordshire salerooom, Bishton Hall, Wolseley Bridge, Staffs. To book an appointment, please email Mark Holder: [email protected]
Mear Hall image from Wikipedia, credit Geoff Pick
