Puzzle Cabinet thumbnail 1
Puzzle Cabinet thumbnail 2
+1
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Puzzle Cabinet

1760s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This cabinet belonged to Lady Charlotte Finch, Royal Governess to the children of George III. She had it commissioned to hold several dissected map puzzles, which she had created for the royal children. Many of these have survived, having been kept within the cabinet (see B.2 to 19-2011).
Finch is credited in a note within the cabinet, by an unknown hand, as having created dissected map puzzles. Educational pastimes of this variety, however, had begun to increase in number immensely during the latter half of the 18th century, with leisure time becoming linked to marketable commodities aimed at those with disposable income.


Object details
Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Cabinet
  • Cabinets on Stands
Brief description
Lady Charlotte Finch's puzzle cabinet, upper cabinet with 13 drawers on lower cabinet with legs, varnished mahogany and brass fittings, English, 1760s.
Dimensions
  • Height: 103cm
  • Width: 48cm
  • Depth: 29cm
With the upper cabinet in place on the lower cabinet
Production typeUnique
Credit line
Presented by Art Fund jointly to the V&A Museum of Childhood and the Historic Royal Palaces.
Subjects depicted
Association
Summary
This cabinet belonged to Lady Charlotte Finch, Royal Governess to the children of George III. She had it commissioned to hold several dissected map puzzles, which she had created for the royal children. Many of these have survived, having been kept within the cabinet (see B.2 to 19-2011).

Finch is credited in a note within the cabinet, by an unknown hand, as having created dissected map puzzles. Educational pastimes of this variety, however, had begun to increase in number immensely during the latter half of the 18th century, with leisure time becoming linked to marketable commodities aimed at those with disposable income.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Shefrin, Jill. Such Constant Affectionate Care: Lady Charlotte Finch - Royal Governess & the Children of George III. Los Angeles: The Cotsen Occasional Press, 2003. 168 p.
Collection
Accession number
B.1:1 & 2-2011

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Record createdFebruary 17, 2012
Record URL
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