Cabinet on stand
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1880
Materials
Rosewood, ebonised mouldings, pewter inlay, semi-precious stones and marbles, tortoiseshell, brass mounts, simulated rosewood drawers
Measurements
321 x 168 x 64 cm
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1331875
Summary
A large architectural cabinet on stand, Italian, circa 1880. Rosewood with ebonised mouldings and pediments, profusely decorated overall with tortoiseshell, brass mounts, pewter inlay and semi-precious stones, including carnelians, moonstones, lapis, onyx and jasper. The top with balustrades and standing gilt brass figures, the upper tier with four drawers flanking a central section modelled as a dummy door with balcony and with a small drawer beneath, the next tier with two pairs of cupboard doors, each pair above a long drawer flanking the central cupboard, all depicting flowers in urns and scrolling tendrils, the projecting marble columns of lapis and porphyry, the high-waisted stand containing three drawers over arches with Siena marble columns, the drawer-linings painted to simulate rosewood, with an under-tier and standing on ebonised bun feet. In notebook no.6, page 11 (1340945.6) Charles Wade refers to: 'The Blue Room 35. Venetian Cabinet c.1840. The whole front of Red Tortoiseshell inset with flowing designs of brass inlaid with many semi precious stones – cornelians, moonstones, lapis, onyx, jasper and with the lower pillars of yellow sienna marble, the next of Lapis, and the upper ones in porphery (porphyry). Ballustrade at top with gilded Figures. The sides of cabinet are walnut with brass inlay. Mouldings ebonized. The cupboards are lined with Rose wood. 5’10 long. 8’2” high. 2’2” deep.'. Includes sketch of leg..
Provenance
This cabinet was found in Taunton, Somerset at Franklin and Hare Ltd, 28 and 29 Parade by Charles Paget Wade's friend Sir Albert Richardson on 15 August 1927 when he was en route to the Scilly Isles and purchased for £60. (Sir Albert Richardson was Professor of Architecture at UCL and a President of the Royal Academy). Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
References
Wade, 1946: Charles Paget Wade, Contents of Snowshill Manor. Volume 6 The Blue Room, 1946, page 11