George III Strawberry Hill Gothic Oak Dresser C.1800

A solid oak George III dresser in the “Gothik” style with two long frieze drawers with original handles over well carved arched tracery central doors which open to reveal a single original shelf.

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Wonderful colour and patination throughout.

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The two side cupboards with fielded panels which have been channel carved to appear as boarded fronts and an original divided cellarette drawer within the right hand cupboard. Each door with a working key.

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The stop chamfered ring turned baluster stiles are continuous - carved in the solid – to create two open boarded shelves with fantastic colour and patina.

The whole dresser is peg jointed.

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Fielded panelled sides and boarded back.

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The flattened bun feet are later and were added to raise the base of the dresser from the floor when the original stile feet had worn down.

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The top comprising three original oak boards. There is a natural shrinkage gap between the front and middle board which is a few mms wide as shown in our photos. This is not going anywhere and would have occurred within the first 50 years of its life.

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The 18th century fashion for the Gothic and the revival of medieval motifs and devices was largely ignited by Horace Walpole’s Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham which was completed in 1776. This beautiful house reflects Walpole’s obsession with the “Gothik” and with theatrical settings. He did not employ a traditional architect but instead formed a “Committee of Taste” comprising a group of his friends who advised him on the building and design.

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The revival of the Gothic became a dominant theme amongst the Georgian elite and artists and writers. Strawberry Hill House heavily influenced the design of the ‘new’ Houses of Parliament following a catastrophic fire which destroyed the medieval palace. It was also carried into designs for

furniture from the 1770s onwards.

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Many 18th century Gothic design chairs, dressers and tables were made but few from this period survive.

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Dimensions are:

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63 inches wide at base, 66 inches wide at top 39.5 inches high and 19 inches deep. The internal (usable) height of the frieze drawers is 4 inches.

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