Dresser
Richard Llewellyn Rathbone (1864-1939)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1910
Materials
Oak, satinwood, sycamore, harewood, walnut, copper metalwork, leaded glass
Measurements
99 x 192 x 51 cm
Collection
Standen House and Garden, West Sussex
NT 1214008.2
Summary
The upper section of a figured oak and inlaid dresser, English, circa 1910, the copper metalwork possibly by Richard Llewellyn Rathbone. The base enclosed by a pair of central doors with interwoven heart and stylised leaf motifs in sycamore, harewood and walnut, within satinwood crossbanding and applied with pierced strapwork copper hinges, flanked by three crossbanded drawers either side, each with elaborate copper handles with twin half-moon back-plates, standing on turned legs joined by chamfered stretchers. The rack, which is currently not on show, is of breakfront outline and has a dentil-moulded cornice, the centre section with open upper shelf above a pair of leaded glass doors, flanked by twin mirror-back sections with central shelf.
Full description
Richard Llewellyn Rathbone (1864-1939) was a relation of W. A. S. Benson who possibly influenced him in his choice of metalworking as a career. He worked on projects with Mackmurdo, Heywood Sumner and C. F. A. Voysey producing metal fittings and utensils. He initially set up a workshop in Liverpool but also taught in the metalworking class at Liverpool University from about 1898 until 1903. He later came to London as the first head of the Art School of the Sir John Cass Technical Institute and taught at the London Central School of Arts and Crafts.
Makers and roles
Richard Llewellyn Rathbone (1864-1939), designer