Late 18th Century Rosewood Sofa Table, Attributed to John McLean (1770-1825)

An important late 18th century rosewood, tulipwood, satinwood cross-banded and gilt metal mounted sofa table, attributed to the cabinet maker John McLean (1770-1825).

This elegant high quality rosewood sofa table bears all the hallmarks of John McLean & Sons, 58 Upper Marylebone Street, Portland Place, London.
The workmanship of the highest calibre, use of the now extinct Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Ingram), the distinctive gilt metal mounts in the ‘elegant Parisian fashion’ and the rare use of a semi-elliptical stretchers all point to the workshop of McLean.

McLean subscribed to Sheraton’s Cabinet Maker dictionary, 1803 and his name also appears in the list of master cabinet makers appended to that volume. In the text Sheraton illustrates a work table, commenting ‘The design….. was taken from one executed by Mr M’Lean in Marylebone Street, who finishes these articles in the neatest manner’