Cabinet thumbnail 1
Cabinet thumbnail 2
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Not currently on display at the V&A

Cabinet

mid 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Towards the close of the 17th century two-door cabinets of this type replaced portable fall-front cabinets as the leading form produced by furniture workshops in western India. Their configuration and dimensions reflect changes in Europe in the design and use of cabinets, which were increasingly devised as showpieces, often richly decorated and mounted on stands in drawing rooms.

The decoration of the exterior of this cabinet reflects the high Mughal style of setting rows of flowering plants in alternating patterns against a plain ground. This device is characteristic of the reign of Shah Jahan and may be found adorning buildings erected by the emperor, such as the Saman Burj, Agra Fort (c. 1637). The basic formula of employing rows of flowers as a principal form of decoration remained popular to the end of the 18th century and throughout the period was applied to various media from carpets to album covers.

The taste for marrying rows of flowers to the exterior of cabinets may also have found an impetus in high-style European furniture, whose decoration also reflected the contemporary western taste for exotic blooms, whether executed in pietra dura or marquetry.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 23 parts.

  • Cabinet
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Drawer
  • Table Stand
  • Drawer
Materials and techniques
Wood with ivory inlay and brass mounts
Brief description
Furniture
Physical description
Cabinet of hardwood, inlaid with engraved ivory, with brass lockplate and carrying handles.
Dimensions
  • Height: 55cm
  • Width: 84cm
  • Depth: 46.2cm
Credit line
Gift of Mr. J.J. Wolff through The Art Fund
Object history
Key labelled to this cabinet is in ST4 case 2, shelf 2 in a bag with other keys
Subject depicted
Summary
Towards the close of the 17th century two-door cabinets of this type replaced portable fall-front cabinets as the leading form produced by furniture workshops in western India. Their configuration and dimensions reflect changes in Europe in the design and use of cabinets, which were increasingly devised as showpieces, often richly decorated and mounted on stands in drawing rooms.

The decoration of the exterior of this cabinet reflects the high Mughal style of setting rows of flowering plants in alternating patterns against a plain ground. This device is characteristic of the reign of Shah Jahan and may be found adorning buildings erected by the emperor, such as the Saman Burj, Agra Fort (c. 1637). The basic formula of employing rows of flowers as a principal form of decoration remained popular to the end of the 18th century and throughout the period was applied to various media from carpets to album covers.

The taste for marrying rows of flowers to the exterior of cabinets may also have found an impetus in high-style European furniture, whose decoration also reflected the contemporary western taste for exotic blooms, whether executed in pietra dura or marquetry.
Bibliographic references
  • The Art of India and Pakistan, ed. Sir Leigh Ashton, London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1950, p. 236.
  • The art of India and Pakistan, a commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947-8. Edited by Sir Leigh Ashton. London: Faber and Faber, [1950] p. 236, cat. no. 1276
Collection
Accession number
W.10-1935

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Record createdJanuary 9, 2006
Record URL
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