Not currently on display at the V&A

Cabinet

ca. 1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Holland & Sons (maker)
Place of origin
London (made)

Revivals of historic styles were very fashionable for furniture in Britain in the 1860s and 1870s. The rectangular form and flat front of this cabinet is based on French furniture of the 1780s, while the classical decoration is taken from a variety of sources, including English Regency pattern books. The two female figures are from designs by Thomas Hope, published in 1809 in his book Costumes of the Ancients, which was reprinted in an expanded edition in 1841. The high quality of the construction is typical of the work of Holland & Sons, one of the largest and most prolific of Victorian cabinet-makers.


Object details

Category
Furniture
Object type
Cabinet
Parts
This object consists of 8 parts.

  • Right Hand Lower Shelf
  • Key
  • Shelf
  • Shelf
  • Shelf
  • Shelf
  • Shelf
  • Cabinet
Materials and techniques
Marquetry of various woods with ivory inlay and gilt bronze mounts
Ivory
Marquetry
Gilding
Brief description
Marquetry cabinet of various woods with ivory inlay and gilt bronze mounts; made by Holland & Sons, English, 1867-72; from the Handley-Read collection.
Physical description
Rectangular with flat top, projecting central section and three doors, on moulded plinth with eight feet and elongated columns on corners; each door decorated with ivory and coloured inlay, the centre door with classical ornament and the outer doors with a draped female figure.
Dimensions
  • Height: 122.7cm
  • Width: 172.5cm
  • Maximum depth: 41.5cm
Checked LW / FC 26.1.10
Style
Classical Revival
Gallery label
  • CABINET ENGLISH: 1865-1870 Designer unknown Probably made by Holland & Sons, London Marquetry of various woods and ivory, gilt metal mounts Given by members of their family in memory of Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read. This is an interesting exercise in the revival of a late eighteenth century style. The form of the cabinet is French but the figures are from that celebrated English Neo-Classical source, Thomas Hope's Costume of the Ancients published in 1809.(pre July 2001)
  • 6. CABINET 1865-1870 Hope’s book Costume of the Ancients (1809) also had a great influence on 19th-century design. As well as costume, it showed classical hairstyles, armour and ornament. In this cabinet the classical figures on the doors are modelled directly on Hope’s illustrations, while the winged motifs, snakes and portrait medallions have parallels in his book. [54 words] Marquetry of various woods and ivory; gilt-bronze mounts Designer unknown, probably manufactured by Holland & Sons, London Given by members of the Handley-Read family in memory of Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read Museum no. W.11-1972(2008)
Credit line
Given by members of the Handley-Read family in memory of Charles and Lavinia Handley-Read
Object history
The cabinet was lot 172 in Christie's London sale, 25th February 1971, lot 172; a table en suite, was stamped Holland & Sons on the drawer.

The female figures are based on designs published by Thomas Hope in Costumes of the Ancients, 1st editiion 1809. An expanded edition was published in 1841.
Summary
Revivals of historic styles were very fashionable for furniture in Britain in the 1860s and 1870s. The rectangular form and flat front of this cabinet is based on French furniture of the 1780s, while the classical decoration is taken from a variety of sources, including English Regency pattern books. The two female figures are from designs by Thomas Hope, published in 1809 in his book Costumes of the Ancients, which was reprinted in an expanded edition in 1841. The high quality of the construction is typical of the work of Holland & Sons, one of the largest and most prolific of Victorian cabinet-makers.
Bibliographic reference
Jervis, Simon Swynfen, 'The Dispersal of the Handley-Read Collection', The Decorative Arts Society Journal, vol. 40 (2016), pp. 49-76, this cabinet discussed on p. 55
Collection
Furniture and Woodwork Collection
Accession number
W.11:1 to 8-1972

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Record createdJuly 19, 2001
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O61235/cabinet-holland--sons/
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