THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
A WILLIAM AND MARY BLACK-JAPANNED CABINET-ON-STAND

Details
A WILLIAM AND MARY BLACK-JAPANNED CABINET-ON-STAND
The cabinet mounted with pierced brass hinges and lockplate, decorated with raised japanning depicting two men fishing in a landscape setting with birds and a pair of rabbits, the pair of doors enclosing a plain interior with an arrangment of ten variously-sized drawers, on a carved giltwood stand with a pierced apron composed of scrolling acanthus leaves, flowers and strapwork, centred by Hercules, between two putti, the corners headed by further putti, the sides centred with a shell, on scrolled cabriole legs with trailing leaves, regilt, traces of original silvering, the cabinet re-mounted and re-japanned on a veneered surface
43½in. (109cm.) wide; 63¾in. (162cm.) high; 22½in. (57cm.) deep

Lot Essay

The richly-carved frame of acanthus-wrapped ribbon-scrolls is inhabited by reclining youths that accompany the labouring hero Hercules, and is festooned with a flower-and-wheat garland, symbolising 'abundance through labour' that is held by their companions. The latter stand in scrolled cartouches above the serpentined and acanthus-wrapped legs that terminate in voluted feet, while the frame's sides display Venus's shell-badge. A related Minerva-centred stand supports a 17th Century cabinet at The Vyne, Hampshire, and is illustrated in R. Edwards and P. Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, London, rev. ed., 1954, Vol.I, p.175, fig. 23.

More from English Furniture

View All
View All