Cabinet
Category
Furniture
Date
1622
Materials
Oak, sycamore, harewood, fruitwood, maple, velvet, iron
Measurements
122 x 140 x 67 cm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1332334
Summary
An oak and marquetry secretaire cabinet, Anglo-German, dated 1622. Probably made by émigré German craftsmen in London. Profusely inlaid in sycamore, harewood, fruitwoods and maple, with panels of foliage, masks, birds, dogs and figures, including, to the underside of the lid, an oval Memento mori panel depicting a skeleton holding an hour glass in its left hand and the words REMEMBER THY END in a banner, also to the fall-front a small panel with initials and date RN 1622. The upper section with hinged fall-front and hinged top opening upwards enclosing thirteen drawers around a pair of central doors, the lower section with four large drawers and bun feet, the writing surface lined with green velvet and with iron lock. CPW Item 72 (Gallery Room) - 'Marquetry Cabinet. Oak with tulip and other wood panels of figures and floral scrolls. Upper part. 13 drawers of various sizes. Cup'd with 2 doors in centre. Front fall. Lower part of four drawers. English dated 1622.'
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Marks and inscriptions
Hinged upper section: REMEMBER THY END To outside of fall-front: RN 1622