Anonymous Splendor: Augustus III’s Writing Cabinet

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Notes

1. He is said to have paid £1000 for it, as noted in the privately printed catalogue, Mentmore (Edinburgh, 1884), vol. I, p. 41, no. 11, quoted in the sale catalogue of Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co., Mentmore, lot. 905. The round number of the price might suggest he bought it in England, but he was studying in Heidelberg and at Leipzig at about that time.

2. This wood has not been identified microscopically.

3. Inv. no. 42703.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sarah Medlam

Sarah Medlam retired in 2012 as Deputy Keeper of the Furniture, Textiles and Fashion Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum, but continues as a curator emeritus. She has worked largely on European furniture during her career, firstly at the Bowes Museum and later at the V&A. She was Deputy Curator on the British Galleries Project and an original member of the Concept Team for the new Europe Galleries. [email protected]