Chats on Old Furniture Part 9

Clocks of the variety termed "Grandfather," either with fine walnut cases or inlaid with marquetry, came into more general use in the days of Queen Anne. An elaboration of carving on grandfather clock cases as a rule is to be regarded with suspicion. Plain panels are not so saleable as carved ones; the want is supplied, and many fine old clock cases are spoiled by having the touch of a modern hand. The clock ill.u.s.trated is an untouched specimen. The walnut case is a fine example of Queen Anne marquetry work. The works are by Sam Barrow, Hermitage Bridge, London. The steel dial is richly mounted with cupids, masks, and scrolls in chased bra.s.s.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _By permission of Messrs. Hampton & Sons._

QUEEN ANNE CLOCK.

Walnut case with marquetry work.]

Towards the middle of the eighteenth century and later, cabinets of Dutch importation, and j.a.panese or Chinese in origin, were extensively in use. In smaller numbers they had, without doubt, in the days of William and Mary, been introduced, but it was not until the commerce with the East had been well established that they became popular. In the cabinet ill.u.s.trated (p. 150) the cabinet-work is English, the drawers are all dovetailed in the English manner, but the lacquered doors come from the East. It is an especially interesting example, as the paG.o.da-like superstructure is not often found complete.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _By permission of Messrs. Waring._

QUEEN ANNE OAK SETTLE. DATED 1705.

With borders in marquetry.

(Width, 5 ft.)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _By permission of Messrs. Brown & Bool._

OLD LAC CABINET.

ENGLISH; EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.]

Lacquered boxes had been sent home from the East by English, French, and Dutch merchants, for many years, and with characteristic ingenuity the French cabinetmakers had employed these as panels for their furniture, but the supply not being sufficient they had attempted a lacquer of their own, which is dealt with in a subsequent chapter on Louis XIV. furniture. Dutch lacquer-work was a similar attempt on the part of the craftsman of Holland to equal the Oriental originals.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LAC CABINET. MIDDLE OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

(Height, 2 ft. 5 in.; width, 2 ft. 8-1/2 in.; depth, 1 ft. 6-1/2 in.; height of stand, 2 ft. 9 in.)

(_From the collection of W. G. Honey, Esq., Cork._)]

[Ill.u.s.tration: _W. G. Honey, Esq., Cork._

FRONT OF LAC CABINET (ILl.u.s.tRATED), WITH DOORS CLOSED.]

In the early eighteenth century the English craftsman tried his skill at lacquered furniture, it is true not with very successful results, but it is interesting to see what he has left as attempts. The ill.u.s.tration (p.

143) of a chair in black and gold lac is of English manufacture. The splat back and the cabriole leg give the date, and the specimen is a noteworthy example. Another piece of the first half of the eighteenth century period is the lac cabinet ill.u.s.trated (p. 151). The metal hinges and corners of this are of chased bra.s.s and of English or Dutch workmans.h.i.+p. The shape and design of the drawer handles are frequently found in nests of drawers of this period, and there was a singular fondness shown at this time for numbers of small drawers and pigeon-holes in furniture. The now familiar bureau with bookcase above, and drop-down, sloping front covering drawers and recesses, dates from this time. The escutcheon of the lac cabinet is ill.u.s.trated in detail as a tailpiece to this chapter to show the particular style of work found on the locks and hinges and drawer-handles of pieces of this nature. As has been said before, it is especially useful to the collector to make himself thoroughly familiar with these details of the various periods.

It may be readily imagined that at a time when cards were the pa.s.sion of everybody in society, the card-table became a necessary piece of furniture in eighteenth-century days, just before the dawn of the great age of mahogany, when Chippendale, and the school that followed him, eagerly worked in the wood which Raleigh discovered. They produced countless forms, both original and adapted from the French, which have enriched the _repertoire_ of the cabinetmaker and which have brought fame to the man whose designs added l.u.s.tre to the reputation of English furniture.

RECENT SALE PRICES.[1]

s. d.

Chairs, six, mahogany, single, and one armchair to match, with shaped legs and openwork backs (early eighteenth century). F. W. Kidd, & Neale & Son, Nottingham, November 11, 1903 25 4 0

Chairs, eight Queen Anne, walnut-wood, with high backs, on slightly cabriole legs, with stretchers. Christie, December 11, 1903 33 12 0

Armchair, Queen Anne, large walnut-wood, carved with foliage, the arms terminating in masks, on carved cabriole legs and lion's-claw feet. Christie, March 29, 1904 50 8 0

Cabinet, Queen Anne, the lower part fitted with escritoire, the upper part with numerous drawers, shaped cornice above, 3 ft. 6 in. by 7 ft. 6 in. Puttick & Simpson, April 12, 1904 34 0 0

Chairs, four Queen Anne, walnut-wood, with interlaced backs carved with rosettes and a sh.e.l.l at the top, on cabriole legs carved with sh.e.l.ls and foliage; and a pair of chairs made to match. Christie, July 8, 1904 44 2 0

[1] By the kindness of the proprietors of the _Connoisseur_, these items are given from their useful monthly publication, _Auction Sale Prices_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _W. G. Honey Esq., Cork._

CHASED BRa.s.s ESCUTCHEON OF LAC CABINET (ILl.u.s.tRATED).

(Width, 10-1/2 in.)]

VI

FRENCH FURNITURE.

THE PERIOD OF

LOUIS XIV

[Ill.u.s.tration: _By kind permission, from the collection of Dr. Sigerson, Dublin._

Ca.s.sETTE. FRENCH; SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

Containing many secret drawers.]

VI

FRENCH FURNITURE. THE PERIOD OF LOUIS XIV

LOUIS XIV. (1643-1715), covering English periods of Civil War, Commonwealth, Charles II., James II., William and Mary, and Anne.

1619-1683. Colbert, Minister of Finance and patron of the arts.

1661-1687. Versailles built.

1662. Gobelins Tapestry Works started by Colbert; Le Brun first director (1662-1690).

1664. Royal Academy of Painting, Architecture, and Sculpture founded by Colbert, to which designs of furniture were admitted.