Antique Georgian Style Edwards & Roberts Satinwood & Marquetry Display Cabinet (Circa 1890)

Summary:
• Item: Display cabinet
• Style: Sheraton
• Period: Georgian
• Circa: 1890
• Provenance: England, UK
• Attributable to Edwards & Roberts
• Wood: Satinwood & Mahogany
• Profuse floral marquetry and string inlay
• Ebony, boxwood & mahogany inlay woods
• Fine pen work
• Swan neck pediment
• Inlaid pediment, cornice, doors, base top and drawers
• Faux dentil cornice
• Astragal beaded glazed cabinet doors
• Original working latches and lock with key to doors
• Decorative fabric lined shelves
• Curved front
• 2 hand dovetailed drawers
• Original brass handles
• Lower shelf with upstand
• Tapering splayed legs
• Dismantles into 2 sections
• Fantastic colour and patination
• Superb quality
• Original condition
• Free delivery to England, Wales & southern Scotland
• Free 14 days UK returns policy

Description:
Here is a stunning example of an antique Georgian Sheraton style marquetry inlaid satinwood serpentine display cabinet, circa 1890, attributable to Edwards & Roberts, in fine original condition.  This display cabinet comprises a glazed cabinet and base, with profuse marquetry floral and string inlay throughout. The top of the cabinet is adorned with a swan neck shaped mahogany moulded pediment decorated with ebony lined inlay and floral marquetry. At the centre of the pediment is an urn-shaped finial. Below sits a boxwood and mahogany faux dentil cornice and marquetry panel, with twin astragal beaded glazed doors below. The doors and sides of the cabinet, as well as the panel above, are decorated with ebony lined inlay framing, incorporating boxwood and mahogany. The left hand door retains the original brass bolt latches, while the right hand door retains its original working lock and key. The inside of the cabinet is divided into 3 sections, with two raised shelves. All three tiers and the back of the cabinet are lined with olive colour floral satin damask fabric, finished with gold braid. The cabinet is raised on a protruding base, which boasts a serpentine front and further floral inlay to the top. The base is decorated with a marquetry urn, flanked by floral detail and fine ‘pen work’ ribbons. Such pen work was typical of Edwards and Roberts craftsmanship. Below the top of the base is a pair of marquetry inlaid serpentine-fronted drawers, with ebony lined inlay framing, incorporating boxwood and mahogany. The drawers are hand dovetailed, mahogany lined and feature their original fine quality brass handles. Further below is an open shelf inlaid with ebony framing, set between the legs of the base, and featuring an upstand to the rear. The base stands on splayed, tapering legs with further ebony inlay framing.

This cabinet features a warm, rich satinwood colour. As it boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination; this can only be achieved through age and years of care and cleaning it has received.

This item would look superb in a variety of rooms, especially the living room or office. It would certainly grace any home and is a great investment, as it is extremely functional.

Provenance:
Although not stamped Edwards & Roberts, we believe this is most likely made by this cabinet making firm, because of the quality of this piece, its design, the quality of the brass handles and fine pen work to the marquetry. These are all hallmarks of their specialised work.

Although this display cabinet is not stamped Edwards & Roberts, it was most likely privately commissioned for a wealthy customer, rather than being ‘retailed’. However, not all of their ‘retailed’ furniture was stamped. It should be noted that this piece was sourced from a private residence, where it had been in situ since it was built. Items that were ‘retailed’ by the Edwards & Roberts usually bore the stamp on one of the drawer linings.

The firm Edwards and Roberts were among the best English antique furniture cabinetmakers of the second half of the eighteenth century. The company was founded in 1845 and by 1854 was trading as ‘Edwards and Roberts, 21 Wardour Street, Antique and Modern Cabinet Makers and Importers of Ancient Furniture’. By 1892 they occupied more than a dozen buildings in Wardour Street and this street became an important furniture retailing area in the second half of the 19th century. The firm carried a fine and complete library of the old designers (e.g. Chippendale, Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton). They became one of the leading London cabinetmakers and retailers working in a variety of styles, both modern and revivalist, specialising in fine quality copies of the 18th and 19th century English and French pieces. Their workmanship included pieces with satinwood marquetry and favoured the Georgian designs. They were known for restoring and adapting older pieces of fine antique furniture to suit more modern needs. The quality of timber used was always the best quality with fine burr walnuts, finely figured mahogany and lighter toned satinwood, focusing on marquetry, inlay and ormolu decoration. They ceased trading in 1899.

Condition Report:
This display cabinet is in good original condition. Nominal old use marks to the leading edges, but nothing significant, considering the age of the item. The cabinet doors feature their original glass, with the left hand door retaining its original bolt latches and the right hand door retaining its original working lock and key. The drawers are mahogany lined and hand dovetailed. They are clean, smooth-running and close flush to the frame. They also retain their original fine quality brass handles. The small urn-shaped finial, which sits in between the swan neck pediment, is probably a later addition, and this can be removed if preferred. As the display cabinet boasts the original polish, it has a fantastic colour and patination. The item is solid in joint and ready to use.

Dimensions:
External Height = 215.9cm or 85” or 7ft 1”
Top Height = 135.5cm or 53⅜” or 4ft 5⅜”
Base Height = 92.4cm or 36” or 3ft
External Width (cornice) = 99.2cm or 39” or 3ft 3”
External Depth = 43cm or 17” or 1ft 5”

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Ref. Display Cabinet 1