A mid Victorian gothic revival walnut, satinwood, purplewood, harewood, ebonised inlaid and parcel gilt side cabinet


probably after a design by A.W.N. Pugin (1812-52)Inlaid with foliate tendrils, geometric motifs, flowerheads and chevron borders, with a pair of central glazed panelled doors enclosing one shelf, flanked by two panelled doors enclosing two shelves, each doors centred by a roundel decorated en grisaille with busts of Dante and Petrarch, interspersed with oak leaf wrapped ring turned columns, marble top cracked 180cm wide x 56cm deep x 98cm high, (70 1/2in wide x 22in deep x 38 1/2in high)
|Distinctive elements on the offered lot such as the elaborate mounts, stylised foliate inlay, intermittent oak-leaf carving and prominent columnar angles are closely comparable to those featuring on various designs produced by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin for the interior decoration of the Palace of Westminster during the 1830s and 40s. A significant proportion of such furniture was actually produced during the 1850s and 1860s by the firm Crace and Son, most often following Pugin's death in 1852. However some characteristics on the present cabinet such as the chequered chevron and geometric inlay are perhaps more reminiscent of the output of two contemporaries, Charles Bevan and Bruce Talbert, who were both exponents throughout the mid Victorian period of what was generally later referred to as the 'Geometric' gothic style.A related side cabinet, attributed to Crace and Son, sold Christie's, London, 29 November 2001, Important English Furniture, lot 262. Other comparable examples of furniture executed by the Craces following designs by Pugin appear illustrated in R. W. Symonds & B.B. Whineray, Victorian Furniture, 1987, London, pp.'s 49 and 51.