A PAIR OF ENGLISH PADOUK, CHINESE RED LACQUER AND JAPANNED CABINETS ON GILTWOOD STANDS

These unusual, highly decorative cabinets were historically attributed to the celebrated firm of Maple and Co. based on the credit line when one of the cabinets was illustrated in Cescinsky (op. cit.), however, as that book was published in 1909 (when the cabinets would have been relatively new), and the illustrated example was dated as 18th century, it seems more likely that Maple were merely retailers who believed the cabinets to be of earlier date, furthermore, the nature of these cabinets is not consistent with their oeuvre. Francis Lenygon (cofounder of Lenygon & Morant) would seem a more likely candidate as he was known not only for carved giltwood of the highest standard but also for constructing impressive 'antiquarian' furniture such as this, which cleverly employs earlier elements.