Mahogany cabinet, 1903-1905, English, made by J. S. Henry and probably designed by G. Montague Ellwood

Tall display cabinet made from mahogany with glass panes and inlaid with ebony and sycamore motifs depicting stylised female heads in the Art Nouveau style.

The cabinet is made in two sections. The lower section is a closed cupboard which is raised off the ground by four legs. Each leg is a group of narrower legs, the two back legs consisting of two legs while the front legs are groupings of four. The cupboard has folding doors in the front made of four panels. Each panel is inlaid with an ebony and sycamore rectangular panel depicting a stylised female head. There is a drawer above the cupboard. The upper section of the cabinet is a two-door cupboard with glass panels in the lower part of the doors and wooden panels with ebony and sycamore inlay and relief-carved Art Nouveau motifs in the upper part of the doors. The upper section stands on six feet and has a completely closed panel back.

J.S. Henry Ltd. manufactured a wide range of furniture working with several designers including G. Montague Ellwood. He is believed to have designed this mahogany cabinet. While many British designers created Art Nouveau-influenced textiles, wallpapers, metalwork and ceramics closer in style to Continental Art Nouveau, this cabinet is a relatively uncommon example of English Art Nouveau.

English Art Nouveau furniture emphasised clean, straight lines and harmonious proportions. This is in contrast to the sinuous, flowing lines associated with Continental Art Nouveau furniture. This cabinet is decorated with carved lilies and ebony and sycamore inlaid panels depicting female heads and leaves. These motifs show the organic forms and graceful lines associated with Art Nouveau, while being symmetrical and stylised in the English manner.

W.26:1-6-1976