Press cupboard, 1716, English, joined and carved oak

Panelled press cupboard in two stages, the front carved in low relief with stylised scrolling stems and flowers.

The upper stage consists of a moulded cornice above an overhanging frieze carved in low relief with scrolling stems and flowers, with a central motif FSF-1716, with two acorn pendants. Two side-hinged doors open on twin cupboards with a central partition divider behind the central fixed panel and a full-width narrow shelf. The sides have a single, plain panel and moulded rails. The left door has a turned knob and replaced lock, the right door is missing its knob and is currently (2016) wedged shut. The 'floor' of the upper section has tongue and groove boards nailed front to back. The doors are hung on side hinges that replace earlier, nailed pin hinges.

The deeper lower stage consists of a plain narrow front 'shelf' above two drawers with traces of two earlier generations of handles (twin ring pulls and a later, central bail handle), both missing. Below the drawers are twin, side-hinged doors opening on a large compartment with a mid-height shelf with tongue and groove boards nailed front to back. The left hand door can be fastened with an inner metal hook. The stiles, drawers and drawer rail are carved. The doors (except for the upper panel) and lower rail are plain with moulded frames. Both doors have replaced locks and are missing their knob handles. All four feet are moulded 'brackets' and must be modern replacements.

The drawers are of oak, the sides nailed to the rebated front, the back and bottoms nailed to the sides. The bottoms consist of 2-3 boards, grained side to side (with splits). The sides have deep running grooves which meet battens mounted inside the carcase.

Joined, panelled construction. The back is joined, with tongue and groove boards nailed in place over the apertures in the framework.

Bequeathed by H. C. Coleman

Chest, dresser & cupboard, bequeathed by H C Coleman of Durford Rising, Durford Wood, Petersfield, Hants

Notes from R.P. 49/517:
Form listed as
"Chest - - English, carved oak, dated 1703. W.23-1950
Dresser - - English, late 17th century. W.24
Cupboard - - English, dated 1716. W.26"

26/2/49 inspection by Thorpe at Durford Rising for the V & A
listed as in The Dining Room
"A Chest. Carved oak. Dated 1703" (W.23)
"A Dresser. Oak. On turned legs, with a superstructure of shelves. Mid 18th century" (W.24)
and on The First Floor Landing
"A cupboard. Carved oak. Date 1716" (W.26)

Dating
It has been suggested (V&A internal file note, dated 1997) that this cupboard may have been made up from old and new parts c1875-1925 on the basis that the carving is very shallow and 19c in style, possibly carved into 17c patterns, but overall the construction and ornament seem consistent with the 1716 dating.

In 1968 this piece was on long loan to West Bromwich museum

For commentary on press cupboards see Victor Chinnery, Oak Furniture, The British Tradition (Woodbridge, 1979), p.323 ff.

Comparable pieces
Hall Cupboard dated 1705, TEMPLE NEWSAM: Christopher Gilbert: Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, vol I (London, 1978), no 233 (attributed to north Lancashire)

On loan to Oak House Museum, West Bromwich

W.26-1950