Rare and Significant "Beehive" Form Mural Cupboard

Rare and Significant "Beehive" Form Mural Cupboard
With Twin Opening Doors and Butterfly Hinges
Floral Punch and Roundel Decorated Boarded and Steam Bent Oak

British c.1660

18” high x 25” wide x 7” deep

Provenance: The Bill and Angela Page Collection, Tunbridge Wells
With Alistair Sampson, Grosvenor House
Syd Levethan, The Longridge Collection

This delightfully sculptural mural spice or glass cupboard is one from a small group of similar examples known to have originated from Wales and the Welsh Boarders. The present piece is the only one known with an internal shelf and twin opening doors. It is in excellent original condition, retaining well patinated and generously shaped butterfly hinges and benefitting from an exceptional untouched "leathery" texture and deep bronze colour. An outstanding example of museum quality.

Comparative literature: Victor Chinnery, "Oak Furniture, the British Tradition", Antiques Collector's Club,1979. Page 330 plates 3:290, 3:291 and 3:292

Ref: 5569