About this lot

Description

Peter Waals (1870-1937), a good cedar lined walnut dressing chest, designed by Hugh Greville Castle Spencely, circa 1930, the top mounted with central mirror flanked by three short drawers and a small cupboard above two short and three long graduated drawers raised on four block feet, silvered peacock motif handles and Hobbs of London locks 167 x 94.50cm (65 x 37in)
Provenance: Hugh Greville Castle Spencely and thence by decent Other Notes: Hugh Greville Castle Spencely (1900 - 1983) was a British architect who worked mostly in partnership with his Harrow School friend, Anthony Minoprio (1900-1988). Amongst their commissions were the 1932 extension to the Royal School for the Blind in Liverpool, and Fairacres, a Grade II listed four-storey apartment block in Roehampton Lane, London in 1936 for the property developer Charles Kearley. Spencely and Minoprio were great supporters of Peter Waals and Edward Barnsley, and they designed a number of pieces of furniture with and for them. Amongst the effects of the late Hugh Spencely are two sheets on foolscap written in his hand and dated 17.1.77, headed "List of Furniture made by Peter Waals of Chalford to the designs of HGC Spencely", which include details of the furniture and the dates of production. The items listed include 'English Walnut chest of two half and five full width drawers with silver handles 37" wide x 20" x 46" high, detachable top consisting of adjustable mirror carried one side by four small drawers 8"x7"x12" high and on the other by cupboard of same size. Silver handles to drawers, 1929?'. Whilst there are some inconsistencies with the dimensions, it is believed that this listing references this chest.

Back to lot listings