Antique Furniture Attributions

Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror

Started by Exquisitely Victorian · November 26, 2008 · 10 posts · 4 images

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Antique Furniture Attributions thread on victorianforum.com · started November 26, 2008 by Exquisitely Victorian · 10 posts, 4 image attachments · discussion in 2008.

Hello, My husband and I just relish all of the information that is available on " Rare Victorian" - However, now I have a question for all of you. I am not asking for a full-blown appraisal just some input on which furniture company you think might have produced this console…

Hello,
My husband and I just relish all of the information that is available on " Rare Victorian" -  However, now I have a question for all of you.  I am not asking for a full-blown appraisal just some input on which furniture company you think might have produced this console mirror that we own.  It is fairly large at approximately 9 1/2' tall by 5' wide, made of burled and standard walnut.  (The winged griffins on top are much more three-dimensional then they look in the pictures.)  It also apparently came from the Philadelphia, New York area.  Any quess who may have made this?  What ever information that you might have would sincerely be appreciated !!!
Thanks
DSC00566 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
DSC00566 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
DSC00574 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
DSC00574 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
I did some digging but can't find directly comparable carvings, design elements, etc. with some quick looking, but I always keep these things in my head and if I run across something, I will come back and post again.  It definitely is reminiscent of the Philly/NY area.

I love the console and that is a great epergne too.  Let me know when you're having a garage sale!

Thank you for posting, anything that you could contribute in the future would be great.  With your recent focus on the firm of Daniel Pabst I was wondering if that might be the manufacturer who made it?
Pabst is a good thought and I will see if I haven't worn out my welcome with a particular author who has a Pabst researcher friend.

Will let you know if I hear anything.
Exquisitely Victorian, do you have a photograph that shows the crest of the mirror? A detail of the mask on the console apron might be useful, as well.
Dear Peacock Room,
It is the only thing that is missing.  I'd love to get an idea or a picture of what it would have been like.
Dear Peacock Room,
Here are more pictures.  Thanks !!
DSC00572 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
DSC00572 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
And ....
DSC00578 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
DSC00578 — Furniture Attribution for Console Mirror
Very nice indeed. Looks like you have some nice Victorian items - you should post some other pictures of choice select items - Victorian eye candy. The close up looks like you have Birds Eye Maple casings and doors in the room shown - quite unusual and not something you see everyday.  woodwright
Thank you for the additional images, Exquisitely Victorian. The reticulated gryphons and carved foliate stop-fluting are quite distinctive, and not at all typical of "Renaissance Revival Daniel Pabst". While carved lion's head masks do often appear on Pabst furniture, I cannot find one by his shop that is similar to your console. (If you are in the Philadelphia area, several pieces of Pabst furniture with very strong attributions are on display in the Decorative Arts galleries; the Ingersoll and Lea cabinets are good examples of Pabst working in the Renaissance Revival style.)

Bear in mind that there were literally thousands of cabinetmakers active in the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia area during the period, and that dozens, if not hundreds, of them were producing furniture of this high caliber. Sadly, a paucity of scholarship on 99% of those shops makes accurate attribution difficult.