Collinson & Lock London porcelain cabinet

This porcelain display cabinet, from the Collinson & Lock workshops, takes up the compositional principles of Anglo-Japanese design developed during the years 1870-1885.

We find the characteristics of this cabinet on the drawing of the piece of furniture presented at the Exhibition of Works of Art Applied to Furniture which took place in London in 1881 at the Albert Hall, the similar piece, mentioned here for comparison, is reproduced in the “Cabinet Maker's” publication of July 1, 1881.

Our cabinet is also arranged on 8 feet, and includes 4 glass doors with glazing beads covered with a wooden lattice. The central body is flanked on both sides by open housings allowing the porcelain to be easily presented and viewed. The upper part, slightly set back from the central body, is completed laterally by small shelves supported by wooden consoles with a scalloped outline. Note the details of the execution of the back panels, carefully worked with a molded frame. The cornice is highlighted with crenellation and the architrave is sculpted with a frieze of gadrooned rushes. The bronze handles and keyholes benefit from the same finesse of execution, the plates are decorated with a tatami checkerboard style braiding on which a flared drop handle is attached.
The piece of furniture is marked COLLINSON & LOCK LONDON on the bottom rail and bears the number 6838.

Mahogany, London - Great Britain - 19th century
L 155.5 x D 31.5 x H 160 cm - to report 2 cracked glasses
The porcelain presented in the cabinet is not for sale.

Bibliography: Collinson & Lock – Art Furnishers, Interior Decorators and Designers 1870-1900 by Clive Edwards editor Troubador & Co UK