Provenance

Marsh & Tatham (subsequently Tatham, Bailey & Sanders) was a partnership between William Marsh (active 1775-1810) and Thomas Tatham (1763-1818) of a successful firm of cabinetmakers and upholsterers based in Mount Street, Mayfair. They carried out major commissions for the Prince of Wales at the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, and, in the case of this bookcase, at Carlton House. Charles Heathcote Tatham (1772-1842), brother of Thomas, was sent to Rome by the architect Henry Holland (1745-1806) in 1794 to collect Classical fragments. Tatham's drawings of these, published as 'Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture' in 1799-1800, provided Marsh & Tatham with the inspiration for much of their furniture. The bookcases were altered by by Morel & Seddon for George IV for the Long Gallery, Windsor Castle, 1828 and then commissioned by William IV to furnish the Royal Library, Windsor Castle, c.1835.