E. W. Godwin Attributed, Ebonised Music Cabinet Probably by Collinson and Lock

Attributed to E. W. Godwin and probably made by Collinson & Lock, this music cabinet in walnut and ebonised wood aligns to the Aesthetic Movement (c.1860 to c.1900), c.1875. The upper enclosed shelf sits back above the oblong mirrored back, creating a shallow display tier across the open top.

The cupboard doors are divided into four fielded panels, centred by horizontal tramline moulding and fitted with gilded brass ring pull handles. These handles are identical to those on two corner cupboards attributed to E. W. Godwin, albeit without keyholes.*

The cupboard interior reveals three open storage drawers, with only one shown. The lower shelf unites the legs and gives the cabinet a light open area beneath the enclosed music section. The whole is raised on ring-turned legs ending on small pad feet, in the same style Godwin used on a number of other designs, including a related armchair and several table designs.** ***

The cabinet also relates to Godwin’s wider Anglo-Japanese cabinet vocabulary, and the legs and feet of a related ebonised tall coffee table held by Puritan Values provides a further internal comparison.****

References / Provenance

* Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, pp. 206 and 207, illustrations 331 and 331a, for two corner cupboards with related handles.

** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, p. 133, illustrations 181 and 181.2, for an armchair with related ring-turned legs.

*** Susan Weber Soros, The Secular Furniture of E. W. Godwin, pp. 143 and 144, illustrations 207 and 207a, and pp. 154 and 156, illustrations 219 and 220, for Godwin table designs with related leg forms.

**** Puritan Values, ebonised tall coffee table, See last Image.