Lot Essay
This chest is illustrated in Young, A.M. Antique Medicine Chests Vernier Press, Brighton (1994), page 47, illustration numbers 29/30.
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Details
A fine mid 18th-Century English mahogany 'spice cupboard' style domestic medicine chest with applied silver fittings, on custom-built table,
the chest hinged in the centre and opening to a facade of eighty-four drawers with ebonised lining and silver ring pulls, on either side a panel of three rows of faux drawers slide to reveal velvet-lined galleries housing six bottles with facet-cut shoulders and ground stoppers (one missing stopper) and paper handwritten content labels (two missing), the fourth row on each side with single drawers with inner wooden lining and paper handwritten content labels, the fifth row on each side with similar double drawers, the two lower rows are facades for single drawers either side containing (on the left side) twelve bottles with facet-cut shoulders and silver-topped cork lids engraved with scroll decoration and content inscriptions and the other drawer (right side) with glass mortar and pestle, glass measure, marble pill-tile, small spatula, bone enema nozzles and a secret drawer beneath holding handheld apothecary balance with silver pans and weights; the rear of the sides both with sliding panels to galleries housing five bottles with facet-cut shoulders and ground stoppers; the case with two silver handles and engraved back plates, silver mounts on the upper corners and a silver escutcheon engraved with foliate decoration, a faux key-hole and an armorial -- 28.8 x 28.8 x 28cm. (11 3/8 x 11 3/8 x 11 3/8in.) when closed. The accompanying Regency, 1st 1/4 19th Century, mahogany stand designed to hold the chest secure but allow for movement, with two drawers and reeded tapering legs to brass capped casters, with two labels reading R. STRAHAN & Co., Ltd. Removals & Warehousing Stephen's Green HOGAN PLACE} DUBLIN with serial numbers Y4260 and X5647 -- 68 x 46 x 49.6cm. (26¾ x 18 1/8 x 19½in.). Together with a case-bound edition of: Young, A.M. Antique Medicine Chests Vernier Press, Brighton (1994). Signed Anne M. Young. (The case-bound edition was limited to 100 copies). (3)
the chest hinged in the centre and opening to a facade of eighty-four drawers with ebonised lining and silver ring pulls, on either side a panel of three rows of faux drawers slide to reveal velvet-lined galleries housing six bottles with facet-cut shoulders and ground stoppers (one missing stopper) and paper handwritten content labels (two missing), the fourth row on each side with single drawers with inner wooden lining and paper handwritten content labels, the fifth row on each side with similar double drawers, the two lower rows are facades for single drawers either side containing (on the left side) twelve bottles with facet-cut shoulders and silver-topped cork lids engraved with scroll decoration and content inscriptions and the other drawer (right side) with glass mortar and pestle, glass measure, marble pill-tile, small spatula, bone enema nozzles and a secret drawer beneath holding handheld apothecary balance with silver pans and weights; the rear of the sides both with sliding panels to galleries housing five bottles with facet-cut shoulders and ground stoppers; the case with two silver handles and engraved back plates, silver mounts on the upper corners and a silver escutcheon engraved with foliate decoration, a faux key-hole and an armorial -- 28.8 x 28.8 x 28cm. (11 3/8 x 11 3/8 x 11 3/8in.) when closed. The accompanying Regency, 1st 1/4 19th Century, mahogany stand designed to hold the chest secure but allow for movement, with two drawers and reeded tapering legs to brass capped casters, with two labels reading R. STRAHAN & Co., Ltd. Removals & Warehousing Stephen's Green HOGAN PLACE} DUBLIN with serial numbers Y4260 and X5647 -- 68 x 46 x 49.6cm. (26¾ x 18 1/8 x 19½in.). Together with a case-bound edition of: Young, A.M. Antique Medicine Chests Vernier Press, Brighton (1994). Signed Anne M. Young. (The case-bound edition was limited to 100 copies). (3)
Provenance
The armourial bears the arms of Henry Dawkins of Over Norton Oxfordshire and Standlynch Park Wiltshire and Lady Juliana Colyear who married in 1759. It has been suggested the chest may have been a wedding gift.
In a letter (present in the stand) to Dr Young and dated 1982 the previous owner writes: My husband, Professor George Fegan, is a very keen collector and the Dublin antique dealers had it ready for him to buy ... about twenty years ago. I do not know where it came from but it was from somewhere in Ireland and we were told that the doctor took the box with him in his pony and trap and left the stand at home. We often wondered about 'uncle James' and his powder and also was the opium any good!
In a letter (present in the stand) to Dr Young and dated 1982 the previous owner writes: My husband, Professor George Fegan, is a very keen collector and the Dublin antique dealers had it ready for him to buy ... about twenty years ago. I do not know where it came from but it was from somewhere in Ireland and we were told that the doctor took the box with him in his pony and trap and left the stand at home. We often wondered about 'uncle James' and his powder and also was the opium any good!
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
This lot is subject to storage and collection charges.
**For Furniture and Decorative Objects, storage charges commence 7 days from sale. Please contact department for further details.**