An Important Late Elizabethan Walnut Open Cupboard

The three open shelves, each formed from twin walnut boards, secured to the rails by small pegs. Beneath the top shelf is a full-length side-hung drawer, the front decorated with a very precise guilloche pattern, which is repeated on each end.

The centre rail again conceals a drawer with a similar, but slightly simpler, guilloche decoration, and simpler still the bottom rail is similarly carved. As mentioned above, the carved decoration is continued around each end, on the top, middle and bottom rails.

The front pillars are superbly turned from pear wood, a timber chosen for its fine grain, which allows for crisp detailing. The piece is further embellished by egg and dart, and dentil mouldings, together with diamond applied bosses.

An extremely rare piece of early English furniture, with exceptional condition, colour and patina, supplied originally to a household of great wealth.

English, possibly Exeter, circa 1590-1600.

Width 4 feet 2 inches, height 4 feet, depth 1 foot 5 inches.

Ref 8608

SOLD