A Rare and Interesting Gloucestershire Oak Court Cupboard

The small, slightly projecting cornice, which has chevron and stamp decorated carving, above a top rail with roundels filled with stylised daisy heads and whorls, flanked by heavy turned pendants, surmounted by a face mask, most probably Charles I (it was not unusual for furniture to be carved with the sovereign’s head to commemorate their death).

The two doors to the upper section have a simple lozenge centred by a roundel, all with stamp decoration, the panels are bordered by a guilloche and nulled carved frame. The centre shelf, made from a thick board, is pegged to the lower frame, which has a lunette carved top rail filled with fern-like leaves. This type of decoration is repeated in the two bottom doors, which are divided into three panels.

In some ways, the carving and construction of the cupboard is slightly naïve, perhaps made by a novice joiner, but the proportions, colour and carving meld together to make a most charming piece of early furniture.

Gloucestershire, circa 1650.

Width 56 inches, depth 25 inches, height 68 inches.

Ref 123

SOLD