• Width:
  42 Inches
• Height:
  68 1/4 Inches
• Depth:
  15 1/2 Inches
• Period:
  19th Century
• Origin:
  England/Ireland

Crafted of lustrous satinwood, this elegant Victorian-period cabinet demonstrates impeccable craftsmanship. Enlivened with colorful hand-painted swag decorations on its crown, base, and window panels, this cabinet features its original upholstered shelving. Satinwood's light yellow color and silken luster present a pleasing alternative to the more somber colored woods. Yet a piece of furniture such as this, made almost completely from satinwood, and in such impeccable condition, is extremely rare due to the fact that in the 19th century -- before the introduction of French polish -- the wood was polished with beeswax, which blanches the color and ruins the wood, a fact which was unknown at the time. In addition, a cabinet like this, which demonstrates such a high level of craftsmanship and is enlivened with colorful painted details, is a true rarity at a time when large retail stores reigned and newly formed mass production threatened to swamp craftsmanship. At the time of the accession to the throne of Queen Victoria in 1837, the design of interior furnishings was in a state of considerable turmoil and uncertainty. This was a reflection on the state of the people, who held much contempt for their monarchs during the reign of the Hanovers from the early 18th century onwards. It was Victoria, in the first decade of her reign, who calmed the irritated nerves of her people with her combination of pious domestic morality and obstinate political single-mindedness. The results had an effect on all elements of society, including furniture style. Circa 1880 42" wide x 15 1/2" deep x 68 1/4" high References: Victorian and Edwardian Furniture, 1992, John Andrews The Victorian Cabinet-Maker's Assistant, 1853, Blackie and Son