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George Oakley
Biography
George Oakley: Master of Regency London Furniture
George Oakley (c.1773-1840/41) stands among the finest cabinet-makers of Regency London, renowned for his exquisite furniture featuring exotic woods and distinctive brass inlay work.
After briefly partnering with Henry Kettle in 1796-97, Oakley established his workshop at 8 Old Bond Street, securing a Royal Warrant in 1799 following Queen Charlotte's visit. Soon after, the Prince of Wales (future King George IV) commissioned pieces for Carlton House, cementing Oakley's reputation among London's elite. A German publication in 1804 declared that "all people with taste buy their furniture at Oakley's."
His signature style combined dark exotic woods—calamander, ebony, and rosewood—with intricate brass inlays featuring stars and palmettes, similar to French "Buhl" work. Oakley's most significant documented commission was furnishing Papworth Hall in Cambridgeshire (c.1810) for Charles Madryll Cheere. These authenticated pieces—including sofa tables, card tables, wardrobes, and bookcases with calamander wood and brass star inlays—help us identify his typically unlabelled work. Though rarely stamped, Oakley's pieces are identifiable by their exceptional craftsmanship, bold Grecian-influenced designs, and characteristic contrasting materials. His furniture represents the height of Regency elegance and continues to be highly valued by collectors and connoisseurs of fine English antiques.
