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Lot Essay
The date of manufacture of 1871 indicated by Gillow's numbering system on this wardrobe coincides with the period of the greatest influence of Bruce Talbert (1838-1881) on English commercial design and its design typifies Talbert's contribution to Gillow's manufactory. His furniture, commissioned by Gillow's director Samuel J. Harris was first exhibited at their Oxford Street showrooms in 1868. His Gillow-manufactured cabinets were also shown at the RIBA Annual Conversazione, 1870; and included a related leather-enriched chiffonier, which may be that later illustrated in the Cabinet Maker, 1882 (P. Agius, British Furniture 1880-1915, Woodbridge, p. 62 pl. 67; and S. MacDonald 'The Early Work of Bruce James Talbert', Furniture History, 1987, n. 38). An ebonised bookcase designed by Talbert for Gillows, presumably at this period, is illustrated in J. Cooper, Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors, London, 1987, fig. 295.
He was described in various obituaries as, 'the first man in his [design] profession' and as 'probably the most original and remarkable furniture designer, which this aesthetic age has produced' (S. MacDonald, op. cit., p. 39-52). He had published his Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal Work and Decoration for Domestic Purposes in 1868 and was to publish his even better known Examples of Ancient Furniture..., in 1876.
The beautiful china-railed lady's wardrobe is panelled with silken-figured golden satinwood, while its painted panels appropriately display elegantly clad female figures symbolising the Seasons. It reflects the influence of the South Kensington Museum's room that was decorated in the 1860s by William Morris with Edward Burne-Jones' figurative compositions; and later lauded in the Furniture Gazette of 1875 as, 'one of the pleasantest little picture-galleries in existence' (L. Parry, 'The Green Dining Room', Antiques, pp. 198-205).
The Birmingham brass-founders Messrs. Robert Langebear & Co. are recorded at 102 Lichfield Street in Slater's City Directory of 1855.
He was described in various obituaries as, 'the first man in his [design] profession' and as 'probably the most original and remarkable furniture designer, which this aesthetic age has produced' (S. MacDonald, op. cit., p. 39-52). He had published his Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metal Work and Decoration for Domestic Purposes in 1868 and was to publish his even better known Examples of Ancient Furniture..., in 1876.
The beautiful china-railed lady's wardrobe is panelled with silken-figured golden satinwood, while its painted panels appropriately display elegantly clad female figures symbolising the Seasons. It reflects the influence of the South Kensington Museum's room that was decorated in the 1860s by William Morris with Edward Burne-Jones' figurative compositions; and later lauded in the Furniture Gazette of 1875 as, 'one of the pleasantest little picture-galleries in existence' (L. Parry, 'The Green Dining Room', Antiques, pp. 198-205).
The Birmingham brass-founders Messrs. Robert Langebear & Co. are recorded at 102 Lichfield Street in Slater's City Directory of 1855.