Cabinet on stand, English, late 17th century.

Painted cabinet on stand, oak and pine. The upper section consists of a cornice with simple ovolo moulding, above a one-shelf cupboard, opened by two doors, each with four panes of glass. A horizontal moulding separates the cabinet from the stand, which hangs above a long drawer with two round handles. The stand has five barley-sugar twist legs, connected by four curved stretchers (front and sides) and one straight stretcher (back). Three ball feet at front, and two plain cylindrical feet at the back.

Given by R. G. Carruthers

China Cabinet, gift of Mr R G Carruthers (High Barn, Stocksfield-on-Tyne) in 1946 in memory of his parents, Mr & Mrs Carruthers of Ashby-de-la-Zouch

Notes from R.P. 46/1090
"Bought by donor unpainted at a house sale in the North of England".
The cabinet was substituted for a prior loan/gift of 2 Chippendale chairs in 1932. Carruthers withdrew the loan and offered the cabinet in exchange (in the end he gave the cabinet and one chair)

Carruthers described the cabinet as "a glazed William & Mary china cupboard" and enclosed a rough pencil sketch (in the RP). Carruthers who appeared to Thorpe (V & A) to be "well-informed about English furniture" stated that the china cupboard was English, not Dutch, and "extremely pretty in design".

Thorpe & Edwards agreed to the exchange and "take (Carruthers) word for the cabinet " as they have no way to inspect it.

Carruthers further description
refers to it as this "Carolean china cabinet…unique so far as I know". He sends a print taken shortly before delivery (not in RP) and notes "there is a good deal of worm" and
"Being originally a painted piece some of the bits (chiefly in the drawer front) are laid open lengthwise but I am confident you will have no difficulty in accepting it as genuine throughout, and English. The mixture of woods is what one would expect…and I should say the handles were originally small wooden knobs as there is no sign of the 'Tuck in' holes that…brasses would leave……Judging by the colour alteration behind the later brass plates the stripping could have been quite a time ago. The drawer seems to have been much in use at one time.
What a pity it didn't turn up in time for the great Dictionary".

Carruther letter, arranging delivery
"to me it is 1) the drawer in the stand (presumably for dusters?) and 2) the solid ends, which point to this being a true china cabinet rather than a showcase for ship models and the like".

20/6/46 Transit Room notes Condition
"worm eaten
parts missing
handles of drawer missing
glass panel of door missing"

Letter Ralph Edwards to Carruthers
thanks and accepts the cabinet "which should make an interesting students piece after repair"

1951 Letter Carruthers to Museum
suggests that the museum might want to sell the cabinet as he feels they were less than thrilled with it at the time the gift was made. Edwards declines the option to sell.

In 1968 this cabinet was on long loan to Birmingham.

W.32:4-1946