Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors has dated this Gilt Bronze Display Cabinet to the 1900s.
The impressed Hatfield maker’s mark survives on the piece, giving the cabinet a firmly documented identity rather than a stylistic attribution.
Of monumental architectural form, the cabinet is constructed with richly figured veneers and enclosed by a pair of large glazed doors with glazed sides, creating an impressive collector’s showcase for porcelain, silver, bronzes or objets d’art.
Key Features
H. J. Hatfield & Sons Ltd, London
Circa 1900–1910
Impressed maker’s mark
Lady Ludlow Collection provenance plaque
Extensive gilt-bronze mounts
Richly figured veneered exterior
French Louis XVI / Neoclassical influence
Pair of large glazed doors
Glazed side panels
Adjustable glass shelving
Cream striped textile-lined interior
Decorative pierced key
Monumental collector’s cabinet proportions
Royal Collection Hatfield cabinet provides an important period comparison
Craftsmanship & Detail
The cabinet is distinguished by an unusually extensive scheme of gilt-bronze architectural ornament. A richly modelled foliate cornice surmounts a scrolling frieze, with further acanthus mounts, flowerhead paterae and gilt framing continuing around the glazing and plinth. These elements are combined with carefully figured veneers to produce the controlled symmetry associated with French-inspired luxury furniture of the period.
Behind the glazed doors are adjustable glass shelves supported on metal fittings against a pale striped textile interior, providing an elegant neutral background for a serious collection.
The historical importance of the cabinet is strengthened considerably by the surviving Lady Ludlow Collection plaque. This is physical provenance evidence showing that the cabinet was at one time catalogued within a collection bearing Lady Ludlow’s name.
Alice became Lady Ludlow following her 1919 marriage to Henry Lopes, 2nd Baron Ludlow; accordingly, the plaque represents later collection history rather than being contemporary with the cabinet’s manufacture. It does not, on its own, establish that the cabinet formed part of the Wernher Collection or was housed at Luton Hoo.
A closely related H. J. Hatfield & Sons display cabinet dated 1906 is preserved in the Royal Collection, providing an important institutional comparison for Hatfield’s production of richly veneered, gilt-bronze mounted display furniture during this exact period. The Royal Collection example is comparative only and is not being presented as this cabinet’s pair or as evidence of Royal provenance.
With documented maker, named provenance, exceptional craftsmanship and institutional comparison, this is the type of antique whose appeal extends well beyond interior decoration into serious collecting.
Condition Report
Good antique condition overall with expected age-related wear, marks and surface variation consistent with an important cabinet of this period.
The cabinet retains its glazing, adjustable glass shelving, decorative key and extensive gilt-bronze mounts. The interior textile lining shows areas of age, marking and wear, as visible in the photographs.
Please study all photographs carefully as they form an important part of the condition report.
Dimensions
Height: 152 cm
Width: 160 cm
Depth: 46 cm
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors has dated this Gilt Bronze Display Cabinet to the 1900s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors Profile Page
H. J. Hatfield & Sons Gilt-bronze Display Cabinet - Lady Ludlow Collection C.1900
