Corner Cupboard thumbnail 1
Corner Cupboard thumbnail 2
+3
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Corner Cupboard

ca. 1780 - ca. 1785 (made), ca. 1860 - ca. 1880 (restored)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The fashion for collecting French 18th-century furniture was widespread in the middle of the 19th century. Pieces mounted with Japanese lacquer were particularly fashionable and so strong was the demand that a lively trade in reproductions and even outright fakes soon came into being. This small set of corner shelves (shown on the left of the image) is one of a pair, collected by the London military outfitter, John Jones. It was almost certainly made in France in the 1780s. The set shown on the right of the image was probably made in England between about 1860 and 1880, to create a more saleable pair. The carcase of the 18th-century piece is in oak, whereas the 19th-century set is constructed on a mahogany carcase. The decorative panels, which look like Japanese lacquer, are mainly in a European varnish technique (confusingly known as 'japanning') on both sets, but it is possible that a few of the panels on the present piece are of genuine Japanese lacquer.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Veneered in ebony on a carcase of oak, set with panels of Japanese lacquer and japanning and with gilt-bronze mounts
Brief description
Corner cupboard veneered in ebony on a carcase of mahogany; set with panels of japanning and with gilt-bronze mounts
Physical description
Corner cupboard with ebony veneer on an oak carcase with a chased ormolu gallery and mounts. The top and three shelves are of white marble and with mitred panels lacquered in Japanese style.
Dimensions
  • Height: 91.3cm
  • Depth: 31.5cm
The two sides of each set of shelves are of unequal lengths and together they form a mirror-matched pair, suggesting that they were designed to occupy opposite corners, perhaps flanking a particular and related table or commode
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
In the collection of John Jones before 1882
Production
This cupboard was probably restored and a pair to it made in London in 1860-80
Summary
The fashion for collecting French 18th-century furniture was widespread in the middle of the 19th century. Pieces mounted with Japanese lacquer were particularly fashionable and so strong was the demand that a lively trade in reproductions and even outright fakes soon came into being. This small set of corner shelves (shown on the left of the image) is one of a pair, collected by the London military outfitter, John Jones. It was almost certainly made in France in the 1780s. The set shown on the right of the image was probably made in England between about 1860 and 1880, to create a more saleable pair. The carcase of the 18th-century piece is in oak, whereas the 19th-century set is constructed on a mahogany carcase. The decorative panels, which look like Japanese lacquer, are mainly in a European varnish technique (confusingly known as 'japanning') on both sets, but it is possible that a few of the panels on the present piece are of genuine Japanese lacquer.
Collection
Accession number
1066A-1882

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Record createdNovember 16, 2007
Record URL
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