A fine and extremely rare William & Mary marquetry chest of drawers on stand. The chest profusely inlaid with marquetry, depicting birds, flowers and floral motifs, the stand with one long drawer above barley twist legs united by shaped stretchers, terminating in bun feet.

This wonderful late 17^th Century chest is a fine example in great condition. It is particularly rare to find a chest on its original stand.

At the time this piece was created, there was strong interest in naturalistic ornament on both sides of the channel following the restoration of King Charles II.
 
Thomas Pistor and Gerrit Jensen was among the very few London cabinet-makers supplying floral marquetry furniture of this quality.
 The style and handling of this piece has strong similarities with furniture supplied by Pistor to Levens Hall in Cumbria in the late 17th Century. 
 
Gerrit Jensen was another supplier of quality marquetry furniture, he was probably born in Holland and settled in London circa 1667, and he became particularly renowned for ‘seaweed marquetry’.

In the late 17^th Century floral marquetry was highly fashionable and Jensen acquired a wealthy London clientele.

For example Jensen was commissioned to create pieces for the Duke and Duchess of Lauderdale at Ham House in London. This can be seen through records of payments made for ‘floral tables’ and ‘floral cabinets’ to Jensen from May 1672 to October 1683.