Martin, Cornelius

Dover, St, London; cabinet maker (fl. 1735-1763)

During the conservation in 2013 of Lady Burlington’s pair of mahogany and parcel gilt kneehole writing /dressing tables made for her Garden Room at Chiswick (now at Chatsworth House), the pencilled signatures of William Kent, John Bosonand of Cornelius Martin and the date 1735 were found on underside of one of the tables.

Martin is documented in 1763 by Heal and although the date is some thirty years earlier this may the first documented example of his work. John Boson, a carver, took a lease of land in Savile Row from his patron Lord Burlington in 1733/4 and thus with his proximity to Martin in Dover Street, the two probably collaborated on this piece, (illus. Hirst, Furniture History (2014) figs. 2-12).

Source: DEFM; Hirst, ‘Conservation Discoveries: New Insights into Lady Burlington's 'Owl' Tables for Her Garden Room at Chiswick’, Furniture History (2014).