Cabinet Doors & Fronts · Victorian (Queen Anne, Eastlake)
William Burges Painted Sideboard and Wine Cabinet (1859)
A Gothic Revival sideboard and wine cabinet designed by architect William Burges in 1859, painted and gilded with figurative scenes and tracery inspired by medieval cathedrals and manuscripts.
Design characteristics
William Burges treated furniture as architecture. This piece, made by Harland & Fisher, uses painted pine and mahogany as a canvas for scenes and patterns drawn from Gothic tracery, stained glass and illuminated manuscripts. The structure itself is simple: a deep cabinet on short legs with a stepped, arcaded front. Its impact comes from color and painted narrative. That makes it a useful reference for anyone who wants a bold statement piece without complex joinery. A painted island end, bar front or built-in cabinet could borrow its palette and arcading.
Classification
- Category
- Cabinet Doors & Fronts
- Motifs
- Painted panel, Gothic tracery
- Date
- 1859
- Maker or designer
- Designed by William Burges (born England, 1827–1881) Made by Harland & Fisher (1845-88) Painted by Nathaniel Hubert John Westlake (born England, 1833–1921) London, England
- Recorded medium
- Pine, mahogany, paint, gilding, iron, brass, and marble
- Dimensions
- 126.7 × 151.5 × 57.8 cm (49 7/8 × 59 5/8 × 22 3/4 in.)
- Evidence
- Documented historical object
- Source
- Art Institute of Chicago
Architectural context
Carved mantels, layered trim and dark, decorative hardwoods. Britain and the United States · c. 1837–1901.
