Lower stage, English, 1600-50, oak, 76/495

of cabinet, English, 19th century in 16th century style

from cabinet, English, 19th century in 16th century style

from cabinet, English, 19th century in 16th century style

containing fragments from cabinet, English, 19th century in 16th century style

Panelled construction, very neatly done using pegs and (apparently) hand-made nails, and hand tool marks (eg top rail of base, from the back). The mouldings all applied. Technically the methods of construction used appear to be largely authentic, but note that the 'skirting' seems suspiciously thin.

The four doors supported on pin hinges held by hand-made nails.
Lower doors - panelled, with the upper rail dovetailed into the stiles (an unusual feature), with a large inlayed panel (about 2mm thick) and applied arches (3.5mm thick at its minimum). The base boards meet in a bird's mouth joint and are nailed up.

Condition
Overall the condition is excellent, but appears much more characteristic of 19th century manufacture than c1600. There is relatively little loss, wear or movement in the wood surfaces, and some surfaces like the cornice feel implausibly sharp (although this is an area that would not have had significant wear.) More significantly the quality of the carving and inlay seems lower, and the carving less vigorous or expressive than expected from good quality woodwork c1600. The lack of comparable German objects c.1600 in our collection make it difficult to judge precisely the wood surfaces and quality of the V&A cupboard (the carved figures for example do not seem convincing in terms of English carving but from photographs they have a lot in common with those illustrated in Kreisel, say.

Given by Brigadier W. E. Clark CMG, DSO through Art Fund

Buffet cupboard, gift of Brigadier W E Clark, Elmstead House, Chislehurst, Kent

Notes from R.P. 55/2552

15/7/55 Objects submitted for Approval form
"Cupboard - Oak, carved and inlaid English"

16/6/55 Letter from Clark to Molesworth
offers the museum "what is now a days called a 'press cubboard' in oak which was described by Miss Jourdain in Country Life for 28 September 1935 - it was also illustrated with that article….I think…the cupboard is rather earlier in that date than indicated…I can give you more of its history…."

20/6/55 Letter Clark to Molesworth
notes "the press cupboard… has been with me for many years" Clark explains he is sending the cupboard to Mallet to facilitate the delivery of this item, along with another (Hungerford table in the end not accepted), to the V & A.

18/6/55 Letter Molesworth to Clark
notes that it is "clearly a most handsome piece of furniture".

2/7/55 Letter Clark to Molesworth
explains that the "Arethington cupboard" is at Mallet "requiring some trivial attention to a hinge of one of the upper doors".

5/7/55 Handwritten notes (Molesworth) to LA
refers to Clark's gift of "this really very splendid cupboard".

Photograph
Included in the files has inscription "Inlaid oak carved cupboard circ 1630 (used in C Life) H 5'10-1/2" x L 7'1" x H 28-1/2" top 25" lower edge".

16/7/55 Letter Clark to Molesworth
re. collection of the cupboard from Mallet notes:
"I have received from Mallet a photograph of the cupboard….I notice that where they assembled it, they have placed the (?) supporting the cornice with "Charity" on the right and "Hope" on the left……the pieces have always stood in the other way….perhaps you would consider which would be the better…
….you will no doubt have noticed the interesting fact that the two panels of the doors to the upper cupboards slide outwards to reveal the keyholes".

6/10/55 Letter Molesworth to Mrs Meldrum at the NACF
describes the cupboard: "Oak, carved and inlaid with various woods. The upper half consists of a pediment with carved strapwork frieze and grotesque masks, supported at two front corners by carved female figures. Below pediment is a cupboard, the front divided into three panels decorated with carving and inlay; at each end and on either side of central panel are pilasters of carytid form. The two outer panels are doors, the central parts, mounted with carved masks, sliding out-wards to reveal locks.
Lower half also a cupboard, the two doors decorated with double arcades of raised faceted ornament surrounding panels inlaid with patterns of vases with floral sprays. At either end and between the doors are pilasters carved with strapwork. The cupboard is supported on bun feet. ENGLISH; late 16th century or early 17th century.
Said to have been formerly at a house at Arthington, Yorks."

13/10/55 NACF Committee
accepts Clark's gift to the Museum.

1931 Correspondence between Greenwood (W.F.Greenwood & Sons Ltd Antiques, Harrogate) and Brigadier Clark
includes many descriptions:

20/7/31 letter Greenwood
has "just bought a most wondeful carved oak inlaid cabinet from Arthington Nunnery. I think it is one of the most beautiful pieces in England….6'5" long".

30/7/31 letter Greenwood
encloses a photograph (taken on 31 July 1931) (not attached to letter on file) and writes "to open the cupboards in the top portion, it is necessary to slide the panels to get at the key hole……With a strong magnifying glass you can see the wonderful and grotesque expressions given to the various masks etc.
The cabinet is undoubtedly James lst …very rare….The house out of which this has come is in perfect preservation, being still inhabited".

7/8/31 letter Greenwood
refers to p.27 Fig 13 in Macquoid and Edwards Dictionary of English Furniture where "there is an illustration of a carved and inlaid bedstead, from Astley Hall, Lancs, with very similar cornice and carved figures, to those on the cabinet, the date of which is circa 1590…..the cabinet is undoubtedly Elizabethan and not James lst."
Greenwood has been able to confirm that the "Yeadon family have lived in Arthington for 300 years".
In response to a query by Clark, he explains "the lower portion of the cabinet forms two doors with positions for shelves in the cupboards. There are no drawers below, what appears to be drawers are only part of the base with oval patrae in the middle of each. The whole of the interior living is very beautiful clean dark brown oak". A further notation by hand explains "the upper portion has two cupboards. There is no inlay, or other ornamentation in the interior".

31/7/31 Greenwood letter
encloses a photograph of the house (on file) from which he bought the cabinet "situated 7 or 8 miles from Harrogate and was founded by Peter de Arthington about 1152". Interesting descriptions can be found in "Lower Wharfedale" by H Speight and in "History of Harewood" by J Jones.

14/8 31 Letter Greenwood
describes John Yeadon as an eccentric - he has been unable to locate him, but has learned that "the Yeadon family have lived at the Nunnery for the last 150 years but the cabinet has been in their possession for 300 years…..the Nunnery being used as a farm, the house and contents would be taken over at valuation and it is supposed that that is how the ancestors of the present Yeadons came into possession of the cabinet…"
Greenwood awaits the return of John Yeadon for a real and full history.
17/9/31 Letter Greenwood to Clark
he has learnt "some very interesting particulars…. regarding the cabinet" from the Earl of Harewood who visited Greenwoods showroom with the Queen on 16 Sept. 1931. He promises to tell Clark next Tuesday in Harrogate.

Formerly on loan to The Commandery, Worcester, 1977-2006.

Although the cupboard may conceivably be German and early 17th century, it seems much more likely that it is a 19th century creation based on north German furniture. It surely cannot be English c1600. More information is needed on the German 19th century trade in antiquarian furniture before judging whether the cupboard was made in Germany or England.

For commentary on Press cupboards: see Victor Chinnery, Oak Furniture. The British Tradtion (Woodbridge, 1979) pp. 323-7

Possibly 19th or 20th century in style of 17th century north German

W.17:1 to 5-1955