On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Unidentified design, furniture

Design Drawing
1850-1 (made)
Artist/Maker
A.W.N. Pugin (designer)
Place of origin
Britain (made)

Details for a 'long cabinet,' with intricate detailing. A front elevation, two part plans, and some finishing details are shown on the page.

Object details

Categories
Designs
Drawings
Interiors
Object type
Design drawing
TitleUnidentified design, furniture
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink over pencil, with later alterations in pencil
Pen and Ink
Pencil
Drawing
Brief description
One of 13 sheets of designs for cabinets; A. W. N. Pugin
Physical description
Details for a 'long cabinet,' with intricate detailing. A front elevation, two part plans, and some finishing details are shown on the page.
Dimensions
  • Height: 500mm
  • Width: 307mm
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed 'Long Cabinet No.1'; (referring to the string course) 'a squeeze for this'; (referring to the top part of the central muntin) 'I will send a squeeze for this'; (referring to the centre of the cabinet, which is open behind a metal screen) 'fitted up with shelving / for Books'; 'Brasswork' and with details identified; signed and dated 'AW Pugin [in monogram] / 1850'.
Gallery label
(03/02/2025)
Exhibition: 'Makers of Modern Gothic: A.W.N. Pugin and John Hardman Jr', Julie and Robert Breckman Galleries, V&A, 3rd February - 26th October 2025

'Long Cabinet No. 1'
1850

This is an early sketch for the grandest piece of furniture designed by Pugin for the Great Exhibition, a cabinet inspired by medieval woodwork. Only the left-hand side is shown in detail as Pugin intended Crace and Hardman to build the right-hand side as a mirror image. So complex is the arrangement that Pugin has noted the elements for which he would send 'a squeeze': a three-dimensional impression.

Pen and ink over pencil, with later alterations in pencil
Given by J.D. Crace
Museum no. E.1560-1912
Object history
The design shown is in all essentials that executed: an ornate carved wooden frame with cupboards to either side of the centre which is open behind a metalwork screen. From this drawing it seems that the central part was intended for books. There are, however, no shelves in the cabinet today.
Bibliographic references
  • Alexandra Wedgwood, A.W.N. Pugin and the Pugin Family , London; V&A, 1985, p. 253.
  • Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, Accessions 1912, London, Printed for His Majesty’s Stationery Office 1913
  • Margaret Belcher, 'The Collected Letters of A.W.N. Pugin', 5 Volumes (Vol. 1. 1830 to 1842; Vol. 2. 1843-1845; Vol. 3. 1846-1848; Vol. 4. 1849 to 1850; Vol. 5. 1851-1852), Oxford University Press, 2001-2015
  • Paul Atterbury and Clive Wainwright, eds., 'Pugin: A Gothic Passion', New Haven : Yale University Press in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1994
  • Megan Brewster Aldrich, Paul Atterbury, 'A.W.N. Pugin: Master of Gothic Revival', New Haven: Published for the Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, New York by Yale University Press, 1995.
  • Exhibition: 'Makers of Modern Gothic: A.W.N. Pugin and John Hardman Jr', Julie and Robert Breckman Galleries, V&A, 3rd February - 26th October 2025
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
E.1560-1912

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O719784/unidentified-design-furniture-design-drawing-awn-pugin/
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