About 20 years ago we acquired at auction this interesting Aesthetic Movement parlor cabinet.
Most of the decoration on the door, flanking panels and crest is not marquetry but rather is painted decoration (what would be called "penwork" if found on earlier furniture) on maple, with a clear finish applied selectively to the decorated areas and the balance ebonized, with parcel gilt incising. I say "most of the decoration" because the Tunbridge-style banding is inlaid marquetry. (See http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/chyral/captioned-door.jpg for photo with helpful labels!)
The interior is fitted with a single adjustable shelf. The construction is of good quality, on a par with better-quality Kimbel and Cabus pieces, for comparision purposes.
Over the years we have run into a few pieces similar in form, with at least one we were able to confirm as having painted rather than inlaid decoration (see scan of newspaper clipping). We would be interested in any insights or information regarding this unusual decorative technique, with regard to other examples or an attribution.
Faux-marquetry Aesthetic Cabinet
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Victorian Furniture thread on victorianforum.com · started March 22, 2008 by misslilybart · 1 post, 8 image attachments · discussion in 2008.
About 20 years ago we acquired at auction this interesting Aesthetic Movement parlor cabinet. Most of the decoration on the door, flanking panels and crest is not marquetry but rather is painted decoration (what would be called "penwork" if found on earlier furniture) on…
