Dellier (or Delwer), Desiré

58 Berners Street, London; cabinet maker and upholsterer (fl. 1834-39)

Supplied much of the seating for the first floor State Apartments of Stafford House, London, under the 2nd Duchess of Sutherland's patronage between March 1834 and July 1836. His total bill for this work amounted to £6,408 6s of which the largest individual bill was for £4,478 18s 2d for the period June 1834 to August 1835. The bill itemises several substantial pieces of furniture in revivalist styles from Kentian to Louis XIV and Empire. These included suites of gilt and white seat furniture of Kentian character, also an upholstered 'divan' or ottoman. The largest item on bill from this date was the charge of £247 17s for enriching a grand piano in 'Louis Quartorze'-style (see Yorke, 1997, p.261, fig. 1). The bill also records the supply of holland covers and drugget, plus cleaning and covering furniture.

Dellier pleaded for prompt payment of his bill for the work carried out in past twelve months at Stafford House as he himself was facing pressing demands for payment of debts. By now he was in serious financial difficulties and pursued by creditors. He informed them he was still owed £769 by the Sutherlands for work at Stafford House although they stood £133 7s 4d in credit to him.

Early in February of 1837 Dellier fled to Brussels to escape his debts but was tracked down by creditors and forced to return to London. He pleaded with the Duchess to be allowed to complete the commission but by now she was inclined to take the view of Loch, her agent, that Dellier was an ‘arrant scoundrel’ and had no further dealings with him, passing her patronage to George Morant.

Nothing is known of Emmanuel, Desiré’s partner, whose name appears with Desiré in directories for this period.

Source: DEFM; Yorke, ‘The Furnishing of Stafford House by Nicholas Morel’, Furniture History (1996); Yorke, ‘Desiré Dellier - 'Arrant Scoundrel'’, Furniture History (1997).