Bureau Cabinet Desk Bookcase
1755-1760 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Mahogany bureau cabinet with carved decoration. The upper section with two folding doors, showing moulded, recessed panels flanked by Corinthian columns, surmounted by an entablature and pediment. Inside, 3 shelves, 2 adjustable, over a glazed central cupboard with pigeon holes either side and flat-fronted drawers underneath. The slope front of the lower part opens to reveal a central cupboard flanked by pigeon holes and drawers. There are three drawers beneath this opening section, the top one shallow and the lower two deep.
Construction:
Base: Solid mahogany with back boards of softwood and the structure of the bracket feet at the back is also in softwood, painted with red lead on visible surfaces.
Upper part: The top, bottom and sides of the upper carcass are dovetailed, constructed from ¾in boards. Vertical boards on the upper section and horizontal boards on the lower section, set into a rebate and nailed in. The frieze and cornice section appear to be built up on three planks of mahogany, forming the front and sides, the sides rebated in to the front board. All the other elements are glued and pinned in place. A separate top of stained pine, with chaffered edges of stained pine is screwed and nailed to the top of the cornice and the pediment, which is only 7.5cm deep is mounted on this and attached with screws.
Inside, the two upper shelves, in mahogany, have rounded front edges and can be adjusted within groves cut in the sides of the cabinet. Below this is a central glass fronted cupboard, within which is a single light shelf with a shaped front edge. To either side of the cupboard the spaces are cut top and bottom with narrow groves that allow vertical mahogany dividers to create differently sized vertical spaces for foolscap documents. To the PL side there is currently one divider with a shaped front edge. Below the cupboard level there are six traditional small pigeon holes. In the plinth of the upper cupboard there are two candle slides with plain turned brass knobs.
Lower part: Slope front opens to show solid mahogany writing desk, liberally stained with ink.
Construction entirely mahogany with oak used for the draw linings. The whole is plain and well made.
The top, on which the upper section sits, is of pine. The drawer fronts and cupboard are plain.
Big drawers, oak sides, bottom and back, and solid mahogany front with cock beading cut from the solid.
Lopers – thick mahogany fronting with cock-beading cut in.
Construction:
Base: Solid mahogany with back boards of softwood and the structure of the bracket feet at the back is also in softwood, painted with red lead on visible surfaces.
Upper part: The top, bottom and sides of the upper carcass are dovetailed, constructed from ¾in boards. Vertical boards on the upper section and horizontal boards on the lower section, set into a rebate and nailed in. The frieze and cornice section appear to be built up on three planks of mahogany, forming the front and sides, the sides rebated in to the front board. All the other elements are glued and pinned in place. A separate top of stained pine, with chaffered edges of stained pine is screwed and nailed to the top of the cornice and the pediment, which is only 7.5cm deep is mounted on this and attached with screws.
Inside, the two upper shelves, in mahogany, have rounded front edges and can be adjusted within groves cut in the sides of the cabinet. Below this is a central glass fronted cupboard, within which is a single light shelf with a shaped front edge. To either side of the cupboard the spaces are cut top and bottom with narrow groves that allow vertical mahogany dividers to create differently sized vertical spaces for foolscap documents. To the PL side there is currently one divider with a shaped front edge. Below the cupboard level there are six traditional small pigeon holes. In the plinth of the upper cupboard there are two candle slides with plain turned brass knobs.
Lower part: Slope front opens to show solid mahogany writing desk, liberally stained with ink.
Construction entirely mahogany with oak used for the draw linings. The whole is plain and well made.
The top, on which the upper section sits, is of pine. The drawer fronts and cupboard are plain.
Big drawers, oak sides, bottom and back, and solid mahogany front with cock beading cut from the solid.
Lopers – thick mahogany fronting with cock-beading cut in.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 20 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Desk and bookcase (bureau) of mahogany, English, 1755-1760, the lower section of three drawers with a slope fronted writing section above. The upper section with two doors between Corinthian columns |
| Physical description | Mahogany bureau cabinet with carved decoration. The upper section with two folding doors, showing moulded, recessed panels flanked by Corinthian columns, surmounted by an entablature and pediment. Inside, 3 shelves, 2 adjustable, over a glazed central cupboard with pigeon holes either side and flat-fronted drawers underneath. The slope front of the lower part opens to reveal a central cupboard flanked by pigeon holes and drawers. There are three drawers beneath this opening section, the top one shallow and the lower two deep. Construction: Base: Solid mahogany with back boards of softwood and the structure of the bracket feet at the back is also in softwood, painted with red lead on visible surfaces. Upper part: The top, bottom and sides of the upper carcass are dovetailed, constructed from ¾in boards. Vertical boards on the upper section and horizontal boards on the lower section, set into a rebate and nailed in. The frieze and cornice section appear to be built up on three planks of mahogany, forming the front and sides, the sides rebated in to the front board. All the other elements are glued and pinned in place. A separate top of stained pine, with chaffered edges of stained pine is screwed and nailed to the top of the cornice and the pediment, which is only 7.5cm deep is mounted on this and attached with screws. Inside, the two upper shelves, in mahogany, have rounded front edges and can be adjusted within groves cut in the sides of the cabinet. Below this is a central glass fronted cupboard, within which is a single light shelf with a shaped front edge. To either side of the cupboard the spaces are cut top and bottom with narrow groves that allow vertical mahogany dividers to create differently sized vertical spaces for foolscap documents. To the PL side there is currently one divider with a shaped front edge. Below the cupboard level there are six traditional small pigeon holes. In the plinth of the upper cupboard there are two candle slides with plain turned brass knobs. Lower part: Slope front opens to show solid mahogany writing desk, liberally stained with ink. Construction entirely mahogany with oak used for the draw linings. The whole is plain and well made. The top, on which the upper section sits, is of pine. The drawer fronts and cupboard are plain. Big drawers, oak sides, bottom and back, and solid mahogany front with cock beading cut from the solid. Lopers – thick mahogany fronting with cock-beading cut in. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Mary Metford Badcock and Laura Metford Badcock |
| Object history | This bureau cabinet features in the portrait of Thomas Nickleson (P.58-1935), as discussed in Ralph Edwards’ Country Life article ‘Mr Thomas Nickleson’s Bureau-Cabinet’, Oct 12th, 1935. It was Bequeathed by Mary Metford Badcock and Laura Metford Badcock in 1935. Miss Laura Metford Badcock of Fons George House, Taunton, was the daughter of the later Robert Gibson Badcock of Taunton, banker. Her large bequest to the Victoria and Albert Museum included furniture, silver, textiles, drawings and a pair of portraits. This bequest was the joint property of Miss Mary Metford Badcock (died 1932) and Miss Laura Metford Badcock (died 1935) who were sisters. The objects belonged to the Metford family of Flook House Taunton, which they inherited from the Button family in 1763 and sold in 1868. The Metfords intermarried with the families of Ellis, Nickelson and Anderson. Of the pair of portraits, the sitter of P.59-1935, Elizabeth Nickelson (nee Growden, from Pennsylvania, b. 1727, m. 1748, d. 1782), was the great great grandmother of Laura and Mary Metford Badcock. The sitter of P.58-1935, Thomas Nickelson (b.1719, m. 1748, d. 1788) was a Quaker and merchant. He built and lived in Post Green House, Lytchett Minster, Dorset, which overlooked Poole Harbour. A note on the object file quotes a contemporary reference to Thomas Nickleson which stated that he was "a most delightful character. He had three daughters, two of whom married Metfords; no son lived to grow up." Elizabeth and Thomas Nickleson were great, great grandparents of Laura and Mary Metford Badcock. In 1935 the bureau cabinet was displayed in the central court of the museum alongside the pair of portraits. Other furniture that was part of this bequest: W.38-1935, W.39-1935, W.40-1935, W.41-1935, W.42-1935, W.43-1935, W.44-1935, P.58-1935. |
| Associated objects | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.37:1-1935 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | February 13, 2007 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
