Mahogany clothes press on a stand. English, 1740-1760.

Mahogany clothes press in three separable parts; cornice, carcase and stand.
The cornice is decorated with a ribbon and rosette moulding. The two doors enclosing the front are carved at the corners with a similar moulding; they have serpentine panels with a break in the middle, raised within mouldings of egg and dart. The interior, is lined in cedar wood and fitted with three adjustable shelves, also in cedar, above two drawers with brass loop handles. At the sides are heavy brass handles of the same kind with shaped back plates. The stand has cabriole legs terminating in lion paw feetand has three orders of mouldings above a shaped apron decorated with foliage and cabochon ornament on a ground of incised lattice-work.

On acquisition in 1930 decoration was missing at two front corners of the stand. Pieces missing fromback corners at the bottom and lower edges of the doors.

The clothes press was purchased from Mrs. Sweet-Escott, The Red Cottage,Lyme Regis, Dorset in 1930 for £500. It had been in the owner's family for several generations and came to her from connections, who were members of the Brownlow family.The initial approach by the vendor referred to the press as by Chippendale, which is typical at this period when the name was applied to any well made item of furniture. She had been advised by the antique dealership Hurcomb, who were better known as dealers in antique silver.

A clothes press is a form of cupboard with sliding trays or shelves in the upper part with drawers below, concealed by panelled doors. By the 18th century the term 'clothes press' and 'wardrobe' were interchangeable, though the term wardrobe was only introduced in the 18th century. A press was used for clothes that would fold flat and not hung on pegs. The actor David Garrick in a letter to his brother refers to his new frock coat and waistcoat being on the third shelf of a 'Cloathes press' in his London house. He further pointed out that it was not 'the Mahogany one, but ye Common one'.
Dimensions and fittings of presses vary. A low clothes press is sometimes referred to as a 'dwarf press' W.12-1930 press being made of mahogany and lined with cedar would havehad additional charges. It is unusual for a press to sit on a carved stand, though a small number of this form have been identified.

W.12:1-1930