Object Description
This is an impressive antique George III flame mahogany, satin wood banded, boxwood and ebony strung breakfront wardrobe circa 1780 in date.
The wardrobe has strong architectural lines and features an elegant moulded cornice above two cupboard doors enclosing three mahogany sliding trays. This is above a lower section which features two half width over two full width oak-lined hand dovetailed drawers fitted with brass oval backplate handles. The central section is flanked by cupboards each enclosing full length hanging space and the wardrobe is raised on an elegant shaped plinth with moulded bracket feet
It comes complete with working locks and key.
It is a truly beautiful wardrobe which is also very spacious.
Provenance:
Lord and Lady Ballyedmond
Corby Castle, Carlisle, England
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 211 cm x Width 266 cm x Depth 60 cm
Dimensions in inches:
Height 6 foot, 11 inches x Width 8 foot, 9 inches x Depth 2 feet
Corby Castle
One of Cumbria’s most historically important mansion houses, grade I-listed Corby Castle sits on a plateau, rising above the picturesque River Eden to the east of Carlisle. The Manor of Corby was granted to Hubert de Vallibus by Henry II and passed to Andrew de Harcia, Earl of Carlisle before being given to Richard Salkeld in 1336. The estate remained in the hands of the Salkeld family until it was sold in 1611 to Lord William Howard, the third son of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The house is built around a red sandstone peel tower, or fortified tower house, built in the 13th century; William Howard added a two-storied L-shaped house to the peel tower, and the house was once again modified in the early 19th century by descendant Henry Howard. Between 1812 and 1814, Scottish architect Peter Nicholson gave the castle a new rectangular plan and the harmonious neo-classical façade in the distinctive local red sandstone that graces the building today. Corby Castle remained in the Howard family until 1994, when Lord and Lady Ballyedmond, as new owners, began an inspired revival of Corby, giving new life to one of the great Cumbrian mansions.
Flame Mahogany
Thomas Sheraton – 18th-century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as “best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed.” Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called “flame mahogany.”
The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree.
Our reference: A5060