2014 marks the 50th anniversary of Butchoff Antiques, the most prestigious gallery on London’s famous antiques street, Kensington Church Street. To kick off the celebrations they will make their debut in the USA by taking a selection of their most treasured exhibition pieces to the Palm Beach Jewellery, Art and Antiques Show, Florida, from February 14-18th.

Butchoff Antiques will bring pieces by the finest 19th century French and English furniture makers, such as a distinctive ‘Bonheur du Jour’ cabinet by Holland and Sons, an exquisite pair of armchairs by Alexandre-Georges Fourdinois, a bronze statue of a musketeer and his steed by Isidore-Jules Bonheur and a Royal writing desk made for George IV by Morel and Seddon.

This magnificent exhibition quality ‘Bonheur du Jour’ (‘daytime delight’) writing desk (c.1860) is by celebrated Royal Warrant-holding English furniture makers, Holland and Sons. The cabinet features hidden velvet-lined compartments to hide a lady’s most valuable treasures, set behind Sevres porcelain plaques depicting playful French characters. Underneath the cabinet’s gilt bronze decoration, ‘pull out’ secret document drawers are revealed.

Butchoff Antiques will also display a magnificent pair of ornately carved and gilded Louis XIV/XV style armchairs (c.1850) by Alexander-Georges Fourdinois, an eminent furniture maker during France’s Second Empire and favourite of the Empress Eugenie. He received many medals in both Paris and London where examples of his furniture can be found in numerous important collections.

This beautiful cast bronze of a mounted musketeer (c.1870) was designed by Isidore-Jules Bonheur and created by his famous father-in-law Hippolyte Peyrol. Bonheur was from a long line of artists and is one of France’s most celebrated animal sculptors. He was awarded the French ‘Legion d’Honneur’ for his artistic achievements, and his works had many admirers including King Edward VII of England and His Imperial Majesty, The Sultan Abdülhamid II, Emperor of the Ottomans.

They will also bring a Royal Writing Table (c. 1828), made by famous English furniture makers Morel and Seddon. The amboyna wood table was commanded by George IV as part of a large furniture commission for Windsor Castle, and the records are listed in the Windsor Castle Royal Inventory. This table can be traced to a particular part of the Castle and is branded with ‘V.R. 1866, Windsor Castle, Room 235’.

Owner Ian Butchoff, one of the founding members of LAPADA and a member of BADA, says: “We are very excited to exhibit at Palm Beach for our 50th. Through being there in person we aim to offer our US based clients a more attentive service and hope our selection of French and English furniture find new homes”.

Butchoff Antiques

Located on Kensington Church Street, London's premier street for antiques, the Butchoff Antiques showroom contains over 3,000 sq ft of some of the finest quality English and continental furniture, mirrors, and objects in the UK.   They also specialise in pieces from the Great 19th-century Exhibitions of Art & Industry, and some of the great cabinet makers of the period, including Holland & Sons, Wright & Mansfield, Jackson & Graham, Gillow of London & Lancaster, Linke & Sormani. For more information visit: www.butchoff.com.