Cabinet veneered in Japanese lacquer, with gilt-bronze mounts, one including the monogram MA. French, ca. 1860-1900

The cabinet is slightly taller than dado height, of ebonised wood, veneered with Japanese lacquer and set with gilt-bronze mounts; the slab is of greenish marble. The cabinet is rectangular in form, mounted on a low plinth, and with inset Corinthian columns at either front corner, supporting the frieze section, which is set with three drawers. The main carcase of the cupboard is enclosed by two doors of unequal width, meeting to the left of the central panel. The marble slab sits within a gilt-bronze mount on the top edge. The cupboard is veneered on the front and sides with panels of Japanese lacquer showing trails of plants and birds, the outer two panels on the front with an applied oval of lacquer in the centre, framed by a gilt-bronze mount. The carcase of the cupboard is in oak and poplar, the cupboard lined with bois satiné. The drawers are of oak, with mahogany front panels, ebonised on the front surface and set with gilt-bronze mounts. The side drawers, and the side panels of the frieze are set with mounts of foliated scrolls, centreing on a ram's mask. The centre drawer is set with a mount of interlaced floral swags, centreing on the monogram MA. On the front and sides of the cabinet, the frieze areas above the front columns are set with mounts in the form of lidded urns with flowers. The four drawers of the cupboard are operated by spring catches set on the upper and lower edge of the main drawer compartment

Part of the Arthur James Collection, bequeathed by his wife

Mrs Arthur James bequeathed 52 pieces to the V&A including French and English 18th century furniture, mirrors, ceramics and silverware which were received by the museum in July 1948. The bequest was conditional on the collection being called ‘The Arthur James Collection, bequeathed by his wife.
Acquisition RP (Nominal File, James, Mrs Arthur, MA/1/J150) records negotations over the bequest, which include 9 pieces of furniture, W.36 to W.43A-1948. Mrs James lived at Coton House, Rugby and 3 Grafton Street, London.

A cabinet of similar overal shape and size, and also mounted with panels of Japanese lacquer, was sold by Christie's New York, 7 February 1987, lot 288. That cabinet was dated to about 1830. The lockplate was stamped FICHET.

French furniture made in the eighteenth century was avidly collected from about 1840 and pieces associated with Marie-Antoinette, the last queen of France, were particularly sought after. The queen, who followed her husband, Louis XVI to the guillotine in 1793, became a tragic heroine. Enthusiasm for her story was taken up by the court of the Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoléon III of France in the 1850s and was soon widespread. Those who could not obtain pieces that had belonged to her provided a ready market for modern pieces in the style that she favoured and this piece is typical of such revival styles. The cupboard is veneered with Japanese lacquer, reminding the user of Marie-Antoinette's enthusiasm for this material, although this lacquer clearly dates from the 1860s or later, and the central drawer shows a mount that includes her monogram 'MA'.

On loan to Cliffe Castle Museum.

W.42-1948