Tallboy
1710-1720 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Chest on stand. Softwood and oak carcase veneered in walnut. The upper part with two small drawers over three full-width graduated drawers, the stand with a single full width drawer over two small drawers, all supported on four cabriole legs with eagles’ feet, with bone claws.
The legs are naturalistically carved with pronounced tendons at the ball and claw feet, the balls fully spherical and the claws, unusually, in bone. The knees carved with shell and foliage ornament and the edges with deeply grooved double mouldings. The lower edge of the carcase of the stand is shaped with symmetrical curves on the front and the sides. The top edge of the stand is set with a deep, double moulding at the front corners, this is stepped out slightly on both the front and side faces to create a base for the corner columns of the upper section. Below this stepped section there is an applied carving, on the front and side faces, of acanthus leaves dropping down, rather stiff in execution, and giving a very straight, vertical line on the font corner.
The body of the stand is veneered in walnut, the sides in a plain-cut book matched, the front with a patchwork of small sections of burr wood. The drawers are cock-beaded and veneered in walnut with cross banding and feathering. They are set with brass bale handles and key escutcheon, the back plates shaped with curvilinear outline. The smaller, PR drawer, shows the same handle, cut at top and bottom to fit the smaller space. On the PL drawer the handle is a non-matching replacement.
The upper part sits within the moulding to a depth of 3.5cm, which is unusually deep. The sides are veneered with a plain figured walnut, book matched and cross banded in walnut. The front corners show inset, fluted quarter columns with Corinthian capitals. The entablature shows a double moulded architrave, a plain concave freeze and a step moulded cornice, all faced or veneered in walnut. At the front corners, above the quarter columns, the entablature is stepped out by a approximately 5cm. The front face of the frame is veneered in walnut. The drawers, which are cock beaded, are similarly decorated to those on the stand but the main field of each larger drawer is book matched in the centre and at the quarters. The veneers of the drawers, which include some burr walnut, are composed of multiple pieces of walnut. The handles and lock plates are of the same pattern as on the stand.
Construction:
The stand has solid walnut legs that continue to the top, providing framing for the softwood sides of the stand. The drawers and their runners are in oak, except for the lower runner on the PL side, which is in softwood, and thinner – possibly a replacement. The drawers run on small fillets of wood, all oak except the lower PL, these supported on small blocks of softwood glued to the carcass. The inner fillets supporting the small lower drawers also act as braces from the front to the back of the carcass.
The top of the stand is of softwood with one very broad board, occupying almost the full depth of the stand, with a narrow board of 8cm at the back. This is probably pinned and glued to the top of the sides and front, but the joint is obscured by the glued down moulding forming the recess for the upper part. It is clear, however, that the top is cut out to fit round the top of the corner posts. The back board, of pine, of three boards, is flush with the back face of the uprights and presumably tenoned into them, and has been pinned along the top edge to the back of the top.
All of the legs have been blocked out on one side of the knee. The bone claws have been set into recesses cut into the globe and the bottom of the walnut section of the claw. The back surface of the back legs have been flattened at the knee but this has been done after a blocking section was added, to allow for carving that was not undertaken. The outer carving on the knees runs onto separate spandrel brackets and on the back face, similarly shaped but plain spandrel brackets have been added or replaced.
The upper section is of dovetail construction and the dovetails, at each end of the base, are clearly visible on the lower edge, in the area which would be hidden by the deep mid-moulding. The dovetailed box sits on a separate frame, running on the sides and front, raising the main carcass by two cm. This dovetail box is cut away to allow for the quarter columns on the front corners and the recess is filled, above the capital, with a block that supports the entablature. Each side appears to be composed of three boards, as is the top. The back is probably five boards but splits covered with blackened paper make this difficult to verify. The back sits within a rebate cut in the sides and is cut out over the back of the lower frame at each side. It is nailed with handmade nails along the top edge and there are additional wire nails on both the top and the bottom edges.
The drawers are currently screwed shut and the internal construction cannot be seen until after conservation.
Label:
On the PR back of the upper section. Paper label, 13.5 cm by 7cm, printed with ‘the British Council/ fine arts department / artist/ title/ collection/ exhibition / catalogue number.
Typed under ‘title’ 1\008.
On the top of the stand is a small blue paper label, partially torn with the ink inscription 46-
The legs are naturalistically carved with pronounced tendons at the ball and claw feet, the balls fully spherical and the claws, unusually, in bone. The knees carved with shell and foliage ornament and the edges with deeply grooved double mouldings. The lower edge of the carcase of the stand is shaped with symmetrical curves on the front and the sides. The top edge of the stand is set with a deep, double moulding at the front corners, this is stepped out slightly on both the front and side faces to create a base for the corner columns of the upper section. Below this stepped section there is an applied carving, on the front and side faces, of acanthus leaves dropping down, rather stiff in execution, and giving a very straight, vertical line on the font corner.
The body of the stand is veneered in walnut, the sides in a plain-cut book matched, the front with a patchwork of small sections of burr wood. The drawers are cock-beaded and veneered in walnut with cross banding and feathering. They are set with brass bale handles and key escutcheon, the back plates shaped with curvilinear outline. The smaller, PR drawer, shows the same handle, cut at top and bottom to fit the smaller space. On the PL drawer the handle is a non-matching replacement.
The upper part sits within the moulding to a depth of 3.5cm, which is unusually deep. The sides are veneered with a plain figured walnut, book matched and cross banded in walnut. The front corners show inset, fluted quarter columns with Corinthian capitals. The entablature shows a double moulded architrave, a plain concave freeze and a step moulded cornice, all faced or veneered in walnut. At the front corners, above the quarter columns, the entablature is stepped out by a approximately 5cm. The front face of the frame is veneered in walnut. The drawers, which are cock beaded, are similarly decorated to those on the stand but the main field of each larger drawer is book matched in the centre and at the quarters. The veneers of the drawers, which include some burr walnut, are composed of multiple pieces of walnut. The handles and lock plates are of the same pattern as on the stand.
Construction:
The stand has solid walnut legs that continue to the top, providing framing for the softwood sides of the stand. The drawers and their runners are in oak, except for the lower runner on the PL side, which is in softwood, and thinner – possibly a replacement. The drawers run on small fillets of wood, all oak except the lower PL, these supported on small blocks of softwood glued to the carcass. The inner fillets supporting the small lower drawers also act as braces from the front to the back of the carcass.
The top of the stand is of softwood with one very broad board, occupying almost the full depth of the stand, with a narrow board of 8cm at the back. This is probably pinned and glued to the top of the sides and front, but the joint is obscured by the glued down moulding forming the recess for the upper part. It is clear, however, that the top is cut out to fit round the top of the corner posts. The back board, of pine, of three boards, is flush with the back face of the uprights and presumably tenoned into them, and has been pinned along the top edge to the back of the top.
All of the legs have been blocked out on one side of the knee. The bone claws have been set into recesses cut into the globe and the bottom of the walnut section of the claw. The back surface of the back legs have been flattened at the knee but this has been done after a blocking section was added, to allow for carving that was not undertaken. The outer carving on the knees runs onto separate spandrel brackets and on the back face, similarly shaped but plain spandrel brackets have been added or replaced.
The upper section is of dovetail construction and the dovetails, at each end of the base, are clearly visible on the lower edge, in the area which would be hidden by the deep mid-moulding. The dovetailed box sits on a separate frame, running on the sides and front, raising the main carcass by two cm. This dovetail box is cut away to allow for the quarter columns on the front corners and the recess is filled, above the capital, with a block that supports the entablature. Each side appears to be composed of three boards, as is the top. The back is probably five boards but splits covered with blackened paper make this difficult to verify. The back sits within a rebate cut in the sides and is cut out over the back of the lower frame at each side. It is nailed with handmade nails along the top edge and there are additional wire nails on both the top and the bottom edges.
The drawers are currently screwed shut and the internal construction cannot be seen until after conservation.
Label:
On the PR back of the upper section. Paper label, 13.5 cm by 7cm, printed with ‘the British Council/ fine arts department / artist/ title/ collection/ exhibition / catalogue number.
Typed under ‘title’ 1\008.
On the top of the stand is a small blue paper label, partially torn with the ink inscription 46-
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 10 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Chest on stand or tallboy, veneered in walnut, with brass handles. The chest has inset Corithian columns on the front corners. The top is fitted with three graduated long drawers with two small drawers above. The stand, on shallow cabriole legs, is set with a single long drawer and two short drawer. English, 1710-1720 |
| Physical description | Chest on stand. Softwood and oak carcase veneered in walnut. The upper part with two small drawers over three full-width graduated drawers, the stand with a single full width drawer over two small drawers, all supported on four cabriole legs with eagles’ feet, with bone claws. The legs are naturalistically carved with pronounced tendons at the ball and claw feet, the balls fully spherical and the claws, unusually, in bone. The knees carved with shell and foliage ornament and the edges with deeply grooved double mouldings. The lower edge of the carcase of the stand is shaped with symmetrical curves on the front and the sides. The top edge of the stand is set with a deep, double moulding at the front corners, this is stepped out slightly on both the front and side faces to create a base for the corner columns of the upper section. Below this stepped section there is an applied carving, on the front and side faces, of acanthus leaves dropping down, rather stiff in execution, and giving a very straight, vertical line on the font corner. The body of the stand is veneered in walnut, the sides in a plain-cut book matched, the front with a patchwork of small sections of burr wood. The drawers are cock-beaded and veneered in walnut with cross banding and feathering. They are set with brass bale handles and key escutcheon, the back plates shaped with curvilinear outline. The smaller, PR drawer, shows the same handle, cut at top and bottom to fit the smaller space. On the PL drawer the handle is a non-matching replacement. The upper part sits within the moulding to a depth of 3.5cm, which is unusually deep. The sides are veneered with a plain figured walnut, book matched and cross banded in walnut. The front corners show inset, fluted quarter columns with Corinthian capitals. The entablature shows a double moulded architrave, a plain concave freeze and a step moulded cornice, all faced or veneered in walnut. At the front corners, above the quarter columns, the entablature is stepped out by a approximately 5cm. The front face of the frame is veneered in walnut. The drawers, which are cock beaded, are similarly decorated to those on the stand but the main field of each larger drawer is book matched in the centre and at the quarters. The veneers of the drawers, which include some burr walnut, are composed of multiple pieces of walnut. The handles and lock plates are of the same pattern as on the stand. Construction: The stand has solid walnut legs that continue to the top, providing framing for the softwood sides of the stand. The drawers and their runners are in oak, except for the lower runner on the PL side, which is in softwood, and thinner – possibly a replacement. The drawers run on small fillets of wood, all oak except the lower PL, these supported on small blocks of softwood glued to the carcass. The inner fillets supporting the small lower drawers also act as braces from the front to the back of the carcass. The top of the stand is of softwood with one very broad board, occupying almost the full depth of the stand, with a narrow board of 8cm at the back. This is probably pinned and glued to the top of the sides and front, but the joint is obscured by the glued down moulding forming the recess for the upper part. It is clear, however, that the top is cut out to fit round the top of the corner posts. The back board, of pine, of three boards, is flush with the back face of the uprights and presumably tenoned into them, and has been pinned along the top edge to the back of the top. All of the legs have been blocked out on one side of the knee. The bone claws have been set into recesses cut into the globe and the bottom of the walnut section of the claw. The back surface of the back legs have been flattened at the knee but this has been done after a blocking section was added, to allow for carving that was not undertaken. The outer carving on the knees runs onto separate spandrel brackets and on the back face, similarly shaped but plain spandrel brackets have been added or replaced. The upper section is of dovetail construction and the dovetails, at each end of the base, are clearly visible on the lower edge, in the area which would be hidden by the deep mid-moulding. The dovetailed box sits on a separate frame, running on the sides and front, raising the main carcass by two cm. This dovetail box is cut away to allow for the quarter columns on the front corners and the recess is filled, above the capital, with a block that supports the entablature. Each side appears to be composed of three boards, as is the top. The back is probably five boards but splits covered with blackened paper make this difficult to verify. The back sits within a rebate cut in the sides and is cut out over the back of the lower frame at each side. It is nailed with handmade nails along the top edge and there are additional wire nails on both the top and the bottom edges. The drawers are currently screwed shut and the internal construction cannot be seen until after conservation. Label: On the PR back of the upper section. Paper label, 13.5 cm by 7cm, printed with ‘the British Council/ fine arts department / artist/ title/ collection/ exhibition / catalogue number. Typed under ‘title’ 1\008. On the top of the stand is a small blue paper label, partially torn with the ink inscription 46- |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Given by Eric Browett in memory of his wife. Mr Brwett gave more than twenty pieces of English furniture, mostly of the second half of the eighteenth century (W.46 to W.74-1937). Most of the pieces were shown together in Gallery 44 on first acquisition (neg. no. 77456). For a discussion of the whole Browett collection see: Ralph Edwards, 'The Browett Gift of English Furniture at the Victoria and Albert Museum', Country Life, 9 October 1937, pp. 380-381. Notes from RP 3429 22/7/37 Gift form lists "1. Tallboy, walnut (in 2 parts" 1924 letter, Browett to Rackham offers to bequeath furniture to the V & A. Brackett's request to inspect the furniture at that time is not taken up. Browett writes "the walnut chest on stand is English and is really a piece of fine quality, the photo does not show the claw and ball feet properly; they are firm & well shaped, not skimpy". 5/6/37 letter, Browett to Rackham offers to present the bequeathed furniture at one. He writes "there are a number of pieces of walnut, marquetry and mahogany furniture which I think are of sufficient interest to be chosen. The best of the walnut pieces is illustrated in Macquoid's Dictionary of English Furniture, Vol.2 page 63) fig. 31. 9/6/37 memo, Thorpe to Edwards expresses interest only in the chest illustrated in Macquoids. 12/7/37 letter, Browett to Edwards lists the walnut tallboy among 34 gifts of furniture and many gifts of metal and ceramic. He writes "The collection has been gathered together on a very slender income….and represent practically the whole of my life's savings". (There does not seem to be any report by Edwards of his July 3 1937 visit to inspect the furniture) 31/8/37 letter, E Maclagan (Director) to Browett thanks him for the gift and writes "It is not very long since our collection of English furniture was universally recognised as being hopelessly inadequate;…..the acquisition of so many first rate examples together marks a really notable step in its improvement. Many visitors…will be…..indebted to your taste and liberality". 2/10/37 letter, Edwards to Browett reports that a special exhibition of his gift will open in October and that he has written an illustrated article in "Country Life" for 9 October on Browett's gift. 22/10/59 minute, Thorpe to Molesworth suggests a letter to Browett who "has excellent taste in furniture, by which the Museum might benefit further". Thorpe has visited Browett and seen "the near-twin of the ivory claw tallboy". 31/10/59 letter, Browett reply to Thorpe explains that his dramatically reduced circumstances prevent him from making further gifts to the V & A. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.46:1to10-1937 |
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| Record created | June 29, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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