FOREWORD
Mallett's are hugely proud and feel privileged to have acquired this r e m a r k a b l e collection o f M a t t h e w Boulton objects and great neoclassical furniture. It was formed by a passionate enthusiast noted for his scholastic a p p r o a c h and a pursuit o f absolute perfection o f detail. T h o s e qualities are seen on every page here and indeed this is a r e m a r k a b l e assembly o f pieces. M a t t h e w Boulton achieved in his gilt metal objects a dignified sophistication quite different to French o r m o l u pieces and in addition they often incorporate the uniquely British blue j o h n , or other rare stones. E m b l e m a t i c o f English neo-classical taste, typified by the architect R o b e r t A d a m , Boulton's w o r k s , together with the outstanding furniture shown here, display a very special glory derived from the e x t r a o r d i n a r y impetus o f neo-classical inspiration that arose in the E u r o p e a n and decorative arts from the 1 7 6 0 ' s o n w a r d s . T h e collection also includes fine items that followed on in this tradition in the Regency period, pieces with a m o r e dramatic and theatrical neo-classicism associated with the reign o f G e o r g e IV. I a m e n o r m o u s l y grateful to Sir N i c h o l a s G o o d i s o n , the leading authority on M a t t h e w B o u l t o n , for his Introduction and for his assistance with cataloguing, to M a r t i n Levy o f Blairman for his help, and also to R o g e r Smith for his invaluable observations on the pieces by Benjamin Vulliamy, c l o c k m a k e r to the King.
L a n t o Synge C h i e f Executive
Front c o v e r : M i n e r v a C l o c k by M a t t h e w Boulton (see page 5 8 ) . Frontispiece: A detail from one o f a pair o f a n t h e m i o n back armchairs (see page 4 2 ) .