Object Type
The most striking aspect of this cabinet is its architectural form, which suggests a building with a steeply pitched roof, tall chimneys and dormer windows (windows fitted vertically into an extension built out from a sloping roof). The designer of the cabinet, the architect William Burges (1827-1881), based the design on a combination of two medieval armoires (cupboards), one at Bayeux and one at Noyon (destroyed during the First World War), both in northern France. The cabinet is actually a desk with a writing flap concealed behind the lower panel with painted arcades.
Subjects Depicted
The themes of the painted decoration relate to writing and printing. The dormer windows contain calendars for the days of the week and months. The scenes painted by Sir Edward John Poynter (1836-1919) include the story of Cadmus, who was believed to have introduced the alphabet to the ancient Greeks. This was an appropriate choice, as the cabinet was intended to be used as a writing desk. The other scenes, also by Poynter, depict the cutting of cuneiform letters, the medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) and the English printer and publisher William Caxton (born about 1427, died 1492). These are all allegories of inscription, composition and publication. The painted decoration also shows heads of figures representing History and Poetry, the ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras (about 500-428 BC) and his friend Pericles, ruler of Athens, Greece, in the second half of the 5th century BC. The insides of the cupboard doors are painted with portraits of Poynter and Burges.
Ownership & Use
H.G. Yatman, who commissioned this cabinet, was the brother of the Reverend John Augustus Yatman (1817-1894), who employed Burges as architect for his house at Winscombe Hill, near Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and later the church. In 1858 the father of the Yatman brothers died, and they may have inherited substantial sums of money. We do not know how H.G. Yatman acquired or developed his taste for avant-garde Gothic Revival furniture at such an early date. However, his sister-in-law's father, W.H. Turner, had been following trends in Gothic Revivalism since the late 1840s.
Physical description
The Yatman Cabinet, pine and mahogany, painted, stencilled and gilded, with metal leaf, lock and hinges of iron, 236 x 140 x 40.5 cm.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1858 (made)
Artist/maker
Burges, William (A.R.A.), born 1827 - died 1881 (designer)
Poynter, born 1836 - died 1919 (painter (artist))
Harland and Fisher (maker)
Materials and Techniques
Pine and mahogany, painted and stencilled, with gilding and metal leaf; iron lock and hinges
Marks and inscriptions
'HERBERT GEO. YATMAN CAUSED ME TO BE MADE/IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD MDCCCLVIII'
Dimensions
Height: 240.8 cm, Width: 139 cm, Depth: 37.3 cm cabinet, Depth: 35.5 cm stand
Object history note
Commissioned by H.G. Yatman, possibly for his London house Designed by William Burges (born in London 1827, died there in 1881); painted by Sir Edward John Poynter (born in Paris 1836, died in London, 1919) for Harland and Fisher, London
Descriptive line
The Yatman Cabinet, pine and mahogany, painted, stencilled and gilded, Designed by William Burges, made by Harland and Fisher, painted by E. J. Poynter, England, 1858
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Wilk, Christopher, ed. . Western Furniture 1350 to the Present Day. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1996. 230p., ill. ISBN 085667463X.
Baker, Malcolm and Richardson, Brenda, eds. A Grand Design : The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications, 1997. 431 p., ill. ISBN 1851773088.
This splendid cabinet was commissioned from William Burges, along with two smaller side cabinets (V&A Circ.216-1961 and V&A Circ.218-1961), by H. G. Yatman, one of Burges's earliest and most important patrons. A serious medievalist, Burges based his design on the famous painted armoires he had seen in the cathedrals of Noyon and Bayeux in northern France. He adapted several medieval features for the Yatman cabinet, including a sloping roof and double folding doors, and revived an eleventh-century technique by covering the roof with layers of metal leaf and transparent paint. Burges's furniture is also distinguished by its iconographic painted decoration. This cabinet, fitted with a writing flap and pigeonholes, is painted with appropriately thematic scenes taken from classical and medieval history representing literature, the alphabet, and printing.
Lit. Mordaunt Crook, 1981, pp. 296-7; Wilk, 1996, p. 154
FRANCES COLLARD
Exhibition History
Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs 1851-1939 (Nelson Atkins Museum of Art 14/04/2012-19/08/2012)
Precious: Objects and Changing Values (The Millennium Galleries, Sheffield 02/04/2001-24/06/2001)
A Grand Design - The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum (Victoria and Albert Museum 12/10/1999-16/01/2000)
Labels and date
CUPBOARD AND SECRETAIRE
ENGLISH; 1858
Wood, painted and gilt
Designed by William Burges (1827-1881) for H.G. Yatman, 1858, and made by Harland and Fisher, London.
The figure paintings by E.J. Poynter illustrate the Legend of Cadmus, the Cutting of Cuneiform Letters, Dante and Caxton, the heads of History, Poetry, Anaxagorous, and pericles. The insides of the cupboard doors painted with portraits of Poynter and Burges and inscribed 'EDWARD J. POYNTER PICTOR: PINXIT' and 'WILLIAM BURGES ARCH: INVENIT'. Exhibited at the London International Exhibition of 1862. [pre July 2001]
British Galleries:
William Burges based this design on the famous painted armoires he had seen in the cathedrals of northern France. His design adapts several Medieval features, including a sloping roof and double folding doors. The cabinet is painted with scenes taken from Classical and Medieval history representing literature, the alphabet and printing. [27/03/2003]
Materials
Mahogany; Pine
Subjects depicted
Buildings; Sheep; Columns (architectural elements); Swan; Alphabets; Chimneys (architectural elements); Printing; Bee (insect); Porcupine; Literature (humanities); Pericles; Dormers; Anaxagoras; Burges, William; Poynter, E.J.
Categories
Furniture; British Galleries
Collection code
FWK
