A Bonheur du Jour from Castle Howard: A George III bronze and ivory mounted mahogany bonheur du...

A Bonheur du Jour from Castle Howard: A George III bronze and ivory mounted mahogany bonheur du jour, probably by John Linnell (1729-1796), c.1780; the ivory reliefs by Giovanni Battista Pozzo, (c.1670-1752), c.1730s; the bronze reliefs probably by Giacomo or Giovanni Zoffoli or their workshop, late 18th century, the crossbanded superstructure with three-quarter pierced galleried top above a central compartment flanked by two doors inset with bronze reliefs of Perseus rescuing Andromeda, and Amalthea feeding the young Zeus, above a slender writing surface with gilt-bronze mount centred by an engraved plaque CASTLE HOWARD 5^TH. DEC.R.1864., the single drawer inset with bronze reliefs of Endymion Sleeping, and Bellerophon and Pegasus, further inset with ivory reliefs of Perseus rescuing Andromeda, and the oval profiles of Medusa, Alexander, Antinous, and Hercules, on tapering legs joined by a shaped X-stretcher centred by a pierced circle, on castors, the reverse with printed monogram for Mary, 109cm high, 79cm wide, 44cm deep

Provenance: Purchased by the present owner from Sotheby's, Bond Street, in the late 1960s.

Ivory submission reference: LK7JG4KX

Note: The present writing desk is a fascinating study in the collecting tastes of the British aristocracy in the 18th century, and incorporates elements purchased in Italy by different generations of the Howard family.

The two larger bronze reliefs (each approx. 24 x 17.8 cm) are clearly a pair, judging from their size, facture and colour. They represent Perseus rescuing Andromeda and Amalthea feeding the young Zeus. The former is after an antique marble relief in the Capitoline Museums, and the latter is after a different antique marble relief in the Vatican Museums, both in Rome.

The relief of Perseus and Andromeda is listed among the works produced by Giacomo Zoffoli and his brother Giovanni, who were active in the mid to late 18th century providing bronzes – principally after antique sources - for visiting patrons on the Grand Tour (see F. Haskell and N. Penny, Taste and the Antique. The Lure of Classical Sculpture 1500-1900, New Haven and London, Appendix, ‘Baffo rilievo Perfeo Andromeda’). The list is not considered exhaustive and the lack of any reference to the other reliefs here does not preclude an attribution to the Zoffoli brothers or their workshop.

The two smaller reliefs represent Endymion Sleeping and Bellerophon and Pegasus. Although of slightly lesser quality, they are also certainly a pair. The former is after an antique marble in the Capitoline Museums and was discovered in the early 18th century, therefore providing a likely terminus post quem for the entire group of bronze reliefs. The Bellerophon is after an antique marble relief in the Palazzo Spada, Rome. It is interesting to note that all the antique sources for this group were in Rome and therefore easily accessible to the Zoffoli workshops and their well-heeled patrons.

The ivory reliefs are from another workshop catering to the wealthy European elite which travelled to Rome in the 18th century. They are documented as having been executed by Giovanni Battista Pozzo (also Pozzi; circa 1670-1752), who was among the artists involved in the creation of the celebrated Walpole Cabinet (now Victoria and Albert Museum, London) in the mid-18th century. Two of the reliefs on the cabinet – the rectangular relief of Perseus rescuing Andromeda and the oval profile of Medusa – also appear on the Castle Howard writing table. The Castle Howard ivories are recorded as having been purchased by Henry, 4th Earl of Carlisle, through his agent, Francesco di Ficaroni, in 1739 for 46 scudi (‘A’ Gio’ Pozzi l’ivorio d’Andromedo, Perseo teste di Medusa, Aless’o, Antinoo, ed. Ercole’; CHA J12/11/14).

Although the origins of the ivory reliefs are clear, the 4th Earl’s death in 1758 makes it unlikely that he also purchased the bronze reliefs, which were almost certainly executed in the later 18th century.  They were likely purchased by his son Frederick, the 5th Earl (1748-1825).  Significantly, it is known that the family patronised the Zoffoli workshops, as there remain bronze figures and vases by Zoffoli at Castle Howard today.

When the bronze and ivory reliefs were incorporated into the writing table cannot be known today with certainty.  However it seems likely that it was executed by the celebrated cabinet-maker John Linnell, who is known to have produced numerous pieces of furniture for the 5th Earl between 1765 and 1790.  There is a closely similar writing table by Linnell at Stourhead which supports this theory (see H. Heywood and P. Kirkham, William and John Linnell, 1980, fig. 312).  The present lot is almost certainly the piece recorded in an entry in the Castle Howard probate inventory of 1825 (‘Principal floor in the new wing, Lady Cawdors [sic] Dressing Room, A small mahogany cabinet ornamented in bronze and ivory figures; CHA H2.11.2 ).  Lady Isabella Cawdor (1771-1848) was the eldest child of the 5th Earl and Countess of Carlisle and retained rooms at Castle Howard for much of her life.

The same piece is recorded in further inventories taken in 1849 described as an ‘Inlaid cheffioneer [sic] with bronze and ivory doors, medallions, & c’ and is in ‘The Countess of Carlisle’s Dressing Room’ (CHA H2.11.3). The countess referred to is Georgiana, 6^th Countess of Carlisle (1783-1858), daughter of the 5th Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The piece is lastly recorded in ‘The Countess of Carlisle’s Dressing Room’ at the time of the death George Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle in 1864 (CHA H2.11.5).
The ‘Mary’ monogram on the reverse perhaps relates to the eldest daughter of the 9th Earl and Countess, Lady Mary Murray (1865-1956), who married the classical scholar and Oxford Don Gilbert Murray in 1889.

The writing desk must have left Castle Howard at some point after 1864, either through a bequest or sale.

We would like to thank Matthew Wood, Assistant Curator at Castle Howard, for much of the documentation included in this note.