What defines Adam Revival style furniture?

Adam Revival furniture originated in the late 19th century, drawing inspiration from the 18th-century neoclassical architecture and furniture designed by Robert and James Adam. The style is characterised by symmetrical proportions, delicate ornamentation, urn motifs, painted panels, and slender turned or tapered legs.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century satinwood furniture?

Pieces from this period were predominantly constructed using West Indian satinwood veneers over pine or oak carcases. Decoration was typically applied using hand-painted polychrome enamels featuring classical motifs, garlands, floral swags, and medallion artwork.

How can you identify authentic 19th-century Adam Revival satinwood cabinets?

Authentic pieces display fine timber grain patterns with natural patination, hand-dovetailed drawer construction, and period-correct hardware such as cast brass handles or key escutcheons. Hand-painted panels will show subtle variations in brushwork and age-appropriate surface craquelure.

How can Adam Revival cabinets be styled in a modern interior?

These cabinets function well as paired flankers alongside a focal point such as a fireplace, hallway archway, or doorway. Their warm golden tones and decorative painted panels pair well with neutral plaster walls and minimalist contemporary artwork to create visual balance.

How should painted satinwood furniture be cared for and preserved?

Keep painted satinwood away from direct sunlight and strong heat sources to prevent timber shrinkage and pigment fading. Dust regularly with a clean, dry microfibre cloth and avoid using harsh chemical cleansers or liquid polishes that can degrade the original painted surface.

for sale €7,313 $7,938

£6,250

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016

View Dealers Stock Page

About Us

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA

Relevant Links

Golden Satinwood Commode

Antique Satinwood Credenza

Painted Satinwood Cabinets

Id #SA896343

PDF

SAVE

Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a gorgeous antique pair of Adam Revival two door satinwood side cabinets with beautiful hand painted floral decoration in the manner of Angelica Kauffman, dating from the late 19th century.

The tops beautifully decorated with a bouquet of flowers, each with a single frieze drawer above a pair of cupboard doors with painted musical trophies within oval panels.

The cabinets are elegantly raised on turned and tapering legs.

Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb pair.

With working locks and keys.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 87 x Width 83 x Depth 41

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches

Angelica Kauffman, RA (1741 - 1807)

was a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Though born as "Kauffmann", Kauffman is the preferred spelling of her name in English; it is the form she herself used most in signing her correspondence, documents and paintings.

While Kauffman produced many types of art, she identified herself primarily as a history painter, an unusual designation for a woman artist in the 18th century. History painting, was considered the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during this time period. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.

Despite the popularity that Kauffman enjoyed in British society and her success as an artist, she was disappointed by the relative apathy that the British had towards history painting. Ultimately she left Britain for the continent, where history painting was better established, held in higher esteem and patronized.

The works of Angelica Kauffman have retained their reputation. By 1911, rooms decorated with her work were still to be seen in various quarters. At Hampton Court was a portrait of the duchess of Brunswick; in the National Portrait Gallery, a self-portrait. There were other pictures by her at Paris, at Dresden, in the Hermitage at St Petersburg, in the Alte Pinakothek atMunich, in Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn (Estonia).

Satinwood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.

Our reference: A2605

Physical Dimensions

Height

87cm (34.25")

Width

83cm (32.68")

Depth

41cm (16.14")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated these Painted Satinwood Side Cabinets to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA896343

Dealers Internal Reference

A2605

Description

This is a gorgeous antique pair of Adam Revival two door satinwood side cabinets with beautiful hand painted floral decoration in the manner of Angelica Kauffman, dating from the late 19th century.

“

The tops beautifully decorated with a bouquet of flowers, each with a single frieze drawer above a pair of cupboard doors with painted musical trophies within oval panels.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 1. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

The cabinets are elegantly raised on turned and tapering legs.

Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb pair.

With working locks and keys.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 2. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 2. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 87 x Width 83 x Depth 41

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches

Angelica Kauffman, RA (1741 - 1807)

was a Swiss-born Austrian Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Though born as "Kauffmann", Kauffman is the preferred spelling of her name in English; it is the form she herself used most in signing her correspondence, documents and paintings.

fig 3. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 3. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

While Kauffman produced many types of art, she identified herself primarily as a history painter, an unusual designation for a woman artist in the 18th century. History painting, was considered the most elite and lucrative category in academic painting during this time period. Under the direction of Sir Joshua Reynolds, the Royal Academy made a strong effort to promote history painting to a native audience who were more interested in commissioning and buying portraits and landscapes.

fig 4. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 4. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

Despite the popularity that Kauffman enjoyed in British society and her success as an artist, she was disappointed by the relative apathy that the British had towards history painting. Ultimately she left Britain for the continent, where history painting was better established, held in higher esteem and patronized.

fig 5. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 5. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

The works of Angelica Kauffman have retained their reputation. By 1911, rooms decorated with her work were still to be seen in various quarters. At Hampton Court was a portrait of the duchess of Brunswick; in the National Portrait Gallery, a self-portrait. There were other pictures by her at Paris, at Dresden, in the Hermitage at St Petersburg, in the Alte Pinakothek atMunich, in Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn (Estonia).

Satinwood

is a hard and durable wood with a satinlike sheen, much used in cabinetmaking, especially in marquetry. It comes from two tropical trees of the family Rutaceae (rue family). East Indian or Ceylon satinwood is the yellowish or dark-brown heartwood of Chloroxylon swietenia.

The lustrous, fine-grained, usually figured wood is used for furniture, cabinetwork, veneers, and backs of brushes. West Indian satinwood, sometimes called yellow wood, is considered superior. It is the golden yellow, lustrous, even-grained wood found in the Florida Keys and the West Indies.

fig 8. A pair of 19th-century Adam Revival painted satinwood side cabinets featuring painted oval musical medallions, draped garlands, single top drawers, double cupboards, and turned tapered legs. — fig 8. Antique Pair Adam Revival Satinwood Side Cabinets Commodes 19th C

It has long been valued for furniture. It is also used for musical instruments, veneers, and other purposes. Satinwood is classified in the division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Rutaceae.

Our reference: A2605