Sideboard, oak, carved with scenes from Robinson Crusoe; designed and carved by Gerrard Robinson, Newcastle, dated 1857

Oak sideboard carved with scenes from Robinson Crusoe

Gerrard Robinson, the carver of this sideboard, had been apprenticed in carvng and gilding to Thomas H. Tweedy, Grainger Street, Newcastle for seven years from 1848. This sideboard, dated 1857, is presumably one of the earliest examples of Robinson's furniture, when he was Tweedy's foreman, before he established his own business as a carver in 1862. Robinson decorated the sideboard with scenes from the story of Robinson Crusoe, one of his favourite subjects. He used the same subject, and rustic figure-of-eight motif, enclosing small figures, for another sideboard shown at the International Exhibition in 1862.

A pair of large hall chairs carved by Robinson with scenes from the story of Robinson Crusoe was offered for sale by Wessex Auction Rooms, Draycot Cerne, Chippenham, Wilts, on 2 April 2016. According to an article in the Antiques Trade Gazette (Issue 2235, 2 April 2016, p. 26), the chairs 'were bought at a hotel in Portsonachan, Scotland, in the '70s by the vendor's parents. The pair came from a group comprising two similar hall chairs upholstered in leather, a large sofa and 22 dining chairs, all in the Robinson Crusoe series.'

CIRC.305:1-1965