Howard and Sons Victorian Rosewood Chiffonier

A superb quality Victorian period chiffonier, or side cabinet, in rosewood by the renowned London cabinet makers Howard and Sons. Of the finest construction with in solid rosewood and with attractive rosewood veneers onto a mahogany carcas. The top section has a single glazed door and an arrangement of shelves. The base section has a pair of glazed doors flanked by corner alcoves with shelving. All doors are lockable (Hobbs and co locks) with the key supplied. The whole piece is decorated throughout with crisply carved detailing, roundels and turned columns. Sympathetically refinished in our workshops and now offered for sale in excellent condition with a wonderful colour and patina.

Dimensions:

Width 112cms

Depth 45cms

Height 176cms

In 1820 John Howard started trading at 24 Lemon St, London, as a 'Cabinet Manufacturer'. He was to stay there for nine years until he moved premises to 27 Great Alie St. and then later in 1832 he was to move the small distance to 34 Great Alie St where he would stay and open an upholstery workshop/showroom at 36 Red lion St until 1845 (the Red Lion premises were only used for one year).It wasn't until 1848 after a short period of non-trading that the company was to take on part of the address more familiar with the company. In 1848 John Howard and Sons started trading at 22 Berners St as 'Cabinet Maker, Upholsterer and Decorator'.In 1853 John Howard expanded the business into 26 Berners St.From 1861-89 and 1865-68 there were workshops at Tottenham St, Charlotte Mews and Fitzroy Sq respectively. After Crystal Palace 1862 saw the first big break for the company when they won a prize at only the second Exhibition they attended, the prize was for suite of library furniture, of which fig 1 forms a part.In 1865 the young George Howard patented a method for veneering walls with a wooden veneer, instead of wall paper or paint, This was to evolve into flooring which prompted George to take out a patent in 1867 on the improved production of parquet flooring. From 1865 Howard and Sons were listed as 'Upholsterers, Cabinet Makers and Parquet Flooring Manufacturers by Steam Power'. A further four patents were subsequently taken out on the manufacture and fixing of parquetry to floors and ceilings in November 1879, July 1880 and July and December 1883.In 1866 George Howard Patented something that would secure his family's company a place in history, he patented the 'Elastic Seat'. His patent totally re-designed the inside workings of traditional upholstery, creating the superior seat, is what they are now widely known only for.1872 saw the company's most significant move when they settled at the address 25, 26 and 27 Berners St, this was only after they consolidated their workshops in 1869 to the Cleveland Works in Cleveland St. These addresses were to remain unchanged until 1935. Howard and sons were to exhibit and win prizes from this address at the 1878 International Exhibition, the 1894 Antwerp Exhibition and win 1 silver and 2 gold medals at the 1900 Paris Exhibition.Howard and Sons became a limited company in 1899, and advertised in 1920 as manufacturers of 'Parquet Floors by Electric Power', and were awarded the first of their royal warrants in 1901.In 1935 Howard and Sons traded from 31 Old Burlington St where they produced mainly upholstered furniture and then ceased trading in 1947.