This sideboard was designed by Ferdinand Rothbart (1823-1899) and a now-unknown collaborator called Th. Kolb and was manufactured by Thomas Hoffmeister and Thomas Behrens in Coburg, Germany in about 1851. It was part of a group of objects, including four chairs, commissioned by the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg. The group was shown in London at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was acquired by Prince Albert, an appropriate acquisition as he was a member of the house of Saxe-Coburg and was brought up in Coburg.
Described in 1851 as being ‘in the German-Gothic style of the middle ages’, the gothic features used include pointed arches and repeated motifs similar to the tracery of windows found in gothic cathedrals. The carving on the panels on the doors have a hunting theme: the central two doors, each showing a group of deer in a woodland setting, are flanked by figures of men with spears, knives and bugles. The carved panels on the left and right sides of the sideboard show a boar and a bear in similar woodland settings.
The sideboard may have been intended finally for the furnishing of Balmoral, the royal holiday house in the Highlands of Scotland. It was almost immediately sent to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where it is shown (with two chairs by the same makers, now in the collections of the V&A, W.10-1967) in the Evening Drawing Room. It remained there until 1923, when it was given to the University of Edinburgh who gave it to the Museum in 1967
Physical description
A sideboard or buffet of carved oak in the Gothic style. The lower section is rectangular with outset sections at the ends with chamfered front corners, above a moulded plinth. It is set with four doors carved with deer on the central doors and with huntsmen on the doors of the outer sections. The side panels of this lower section are carved with a wild boar on the left-hand side and with a wild bear on the right-hand end. The frieze of this lower section is a reverse ogee in section, carved and pierced, with a running arcaded motif below a serpentine run of foliage, set proud of a background covered with red plush. The superstructure of the buffet consists of three tiers of pierced arcading, the central tier carved as a series of rose windows, below a continuous canopy, with gothic vaulting below and a carved and pierced cresting in gothic style above. The tracery of the lower tiers are missing, showing the red plush background crudely nailed to the ground. The back of the superstructure is lined with red plush (now faded to brown), against which the pierced carving is designed to be seen. The superstructure is set with two narrow shelves, the edges with aprons of carved and pierced running foliage. The shelves are jointed into the back panel of the superstructure and are each supported by four scrolling, pierced brackets, two at either end and two at either side of the central section. The shelves and the canopy above break forward over the outer sections and the canopy is finished above each side section with a carved and pierced gothic finial of complex architectural form, the centre of the front of the canopy showing a rising cresting with a central shield.
Place of Origin
Coburg, Germany (made)
Date
ca. 1851 (made)
Artist/maker
Rothbart, Ferdinand, born 1823 - died 1899 (designer)
Thomas Hoffmeister and Theodor Behrens (makers)
Materials and Techniques
Carved oak and brown plush
Marks and inscriptions
VR
HP
1859
3841
Dimensions
Height: 351 cm approx., Width: 335 cm approx., Depth: 82.5 cm approx.
Object history note
This cabinet, together with four chairs by Hoffmeister & Behrens (W.10toC-1967) were shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851, the most admired piece that was sent from Coburg was this sideboard, which received an ‘Honourable Mention’ from the Juries. The sideboard was designed with the help of the Coburg court artist Ferdinand Rothbart and a designer or artist named Th. Kolb about whom nothing is now known. It was made by Thomas Hoffmeister and Theodor Behrens.
The sideboard and chairs were acquired by Prince Albert. They may have been intended to furnish Balmoral, which was in the process of purchase at that time and was later re-modelled, but they seem never to have got further than the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. The related chairs carry an inventory brand for the Palace of Holyrood in 1859. The sideboard and two of the chairs are shown in a watercolour of c. 1863 by George Greig (c. 1820-1867), in the Evening Drawing Room (only two chairs shown, flanking the sideboard). The water-colour shows two women in mourning, possibly for the death of Prince Albert in 1861.
The pieces remained at Holyrood until 1923 when, after a correspondence between the Duke of Atholl and Professor Stebbing, they were given by King George V to Professor Stebbing for us at the Department of Forestry, University of Edinburgh at 10 George Square, Edinburgh.
In 1967, re-development of the University meant that the Department of Forestry no longer wished to house the pieces and they were offered to the V&A.
Descriptive line
Sideboard of carved oak, in gothic revival style, the doors of the lower section carved with deer and huntsmen, the tiered superstructure carve with gothic ornament, some pierced and showing against a ground of red plush.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Amtlicher Katalog der Ausstellung der Industrieerzeugnisse alle Völke, 1851. Londo, 1851, p. 124, entry 773
'Hoffmeister, T. & Behrens Th., Fabrikant und Bilhauer [manfacturer and sculptor], Coburg - Ein eichener Schenktisch im reinen gothischen Styl, mit Schnitzwerk und braunem Velpel decoriert; 4 eichene Lehnstühle [W.11-1967] in demselbe Genre.'
Official Descriptive and Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations. London, 1851, vol. III, p. 1093, entry 773
'German Zollverein (German Customs Union)
Hoffmeister, Thomas and Behrens, T., Coburg, Manufacturers (Agent, Joseph Kendall, 8 Harp Lane, Great Tower Street, London). Oak sideboard, decorated with carved work, the the true German-Gothic Style of the middle age, and ornamented with brown plush. Four carved oak Gothic arm-chairs [W.11-1967], of the same work and style.'
Jury Reports (Exhibition of 1851), vol. I, p. 187
'Hoffmeister, T. & Co., Cat. No. 773 Prussia, Sideboard. Honourable Mention.'
Yapp, G. W., Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, 1851 , 1851, 'Foreign States', pl 270
'773 Hoffmeister, T. & Co. Coburg, Duchy of Saxe-Coburg, Manu., oak sideboard decorated with carved work, in the German-Gothic style of the middle-age, and ornamented with brown plush; four oak arm-chairs [W.11-1967] to match.
In Part II, 'Priced List', p. 93:
'made with the assistance of the Court painter Rothbart and Th. Kolb [i.e. the sideboard and chairs; no price listed].
The Illustrated Exhibitor. London: John Cassell, p. 483
'The oak sideboard of carved work from Coburg, the collection of meerschaum pipes from Ruhla, and the castings from the foundries of Ilseburgh and Ruseland, attest the progress of our continental rivals.'
The Art Journal illustrated catalogue: the industry of all nations. London: George Virtue, 1851, p. 291
'The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg has made great exertions to be worthily represented in the Exhibition. This might be looked for from the connections existing between that country and the Prince who has rendered such efficient service in bringing the vast undustrial display to its present satisfactory condition; the land of his birth would naturally fell a double interest in doing her best to second his laudable efforts. Hence we find, among her numerous contributions, many valuable natural productions and a large variety of manufactured objects, of a useful and decorative character. We introduce on this page examples of the woodcarving of Messrs. T. HOFFMEISTER & CO. of Coburg. consisting of portions [only parts were illustrated] of an oak SIDEBOARD, executed in the German-Gothic style of the middle ages and one of a series of four ARM-CHAIRS to match. The CROSS-PIECE [the cresting section] at the top of the page is the upper part of the canopy seen underneath. The workmanship of these subjects is exceedingly good'
'Illustrierte Zeitung', 1951, vol. 16, p. 348-9. [Incomplete reference]
Exhibition History
The Victoria and Albert Museum: Art and Design For All (Kunst und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn 18/11/2011-15/04/2012)
Labels and date
SIDEBOARD
W.11-1967
'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900'
The Duchy of Saxe-Coburg showed this sideboard at the London 1851 Great Exhibition, and it was later presented to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, an appropriate gesture as he was a member of the house of Saxe-Coburg and was brought up in Coburg.
Given by the University of Edinburgh [1987-2006]
Production Note
Shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and fully described in the catalogue
Materials
Oak; Plush
Techniques
Carving
Categories
Furniture
Collection code
FWK
