Description
A William & Mary period oyster olive wood cabinet on stand of unusually small size.
The oyster inlays are of superb quality, and it is rare to find one of such small proportions. The two cabinet doors open to reveal numerous small drawers arranged around a central cupboard. Most mounts, hinges and locks are original. Fitted with a bible, or chart, drawer in the cornice. Stand restored. Lovely old surfaces and colour throughout.
In superb condition overall. Ready to enhance any fine interior setting.
Ref: A very similar fine late-17th century oyster cabinet on stand from The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma was sold at Sotheby’s London @ £27,720.
Literature:
Vis illustrations in English Furniture Of The Eighteenth Century, Herbert Cescinsky, George Routledge & Sons (1911) vol. I, p. 128, figs. 145 & 146.
Ralph Edwards CBE FSA in his Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture, Hamlyn (Fourth edition 1972) illustrates a cabinet p. 93, ill.7. Dated 1685.
English Homes, Late Georgian, 1760-1820, H. Avray Tipping, London (1926)
Inventory, 1749, ”one Olive Cabinet [sic] in The Blue Chamber”;
Inventory, 1885, p.17, ”in The Boudoir”.
Arthur T. Bolton, Mersham le Hatch, Country Life, 26 March 1921, ”photographed in The Staircase Hall”, p. 372;
p. 19,” on The First Floor Landing”;
”in situ”, [sic] p. 128.
Further refs:
Cabinet on stand | V&A Explore The Collections
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O167482/cabinet-on-stand
Cabinet on stand 1180798 | National Trust Collections
www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1180798
