E. W. Godwin Attributed, Anglo-Japanese Walnut Double Wardrobe

Attributed to E. W. Godwin, maker unknown, this double wardrobe in walnut aligns to the Anglo-Japanese mode of the Aesthetic Movement (c.1860 to c.1900), c.1880. The wardrobe is surmounted by a Japanese-style fretwork upper section to the cornice, united by square uprights with shaped incised finials and a subtle flaring moulded cornice below.

The upper and lower fielded door panels relate to a number of door designs Godwin used, particularly the lower door panel.* A wardrobe of similar form with comparable details is also illustrated by Soros, alongside a related cabinet design.** The upper right-hand door panel above the mirror is identical to a hanging cabinet illustrated in the same publication.***

The left-hand upper two-door cupboard opens to reveal three open shelves inside, with three drawers below and a smaller two-door cupboard beneath. The whole stands on square feet with small shaped bracket supports to each corner, a bracket detail Godwin used to support the legs to the body on a number of cabinets.

The square brass backplates with ring pull handles and square shaped escutcheons are reminiscent of handles Godwin used on a dressing table designed for Dromore Castle.****

References / Provenance

* Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, pp. 222 and 223, illustrations 358 and 359, for related Godwin door designs.

** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, p. 228, for a wardrobe of similar form with comparable details, and p. 198, illustration 318.1.

*** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, p. 205, illustration 328, for a hanging cabinet with a related upper right-hand door panel.

**** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, pp. 192 and 195, illustrations 312.1 and 315.2, for the dressing table designed for Dromore Castle with related handle treatment.