These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.
Download this imageCreative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.
Castle Howard Cabinet
Maker:
Unknown
Designer:
Tatham, Charles Heathcote
(Possibly)
Rosewood cabinet, mounted with pietre dure, and inlaid with ebony. On a Regency mahogany and parcel-gilt stand. One of a pair.
The cabinet is of 'architectural' form. The upper part has pediments and drawers, and has a central cupboard which encloses a fitted interior with an arcaded alcove. The pediments are surmounted by classical figures and putti, who stand flanked by female figures, with summer and autumn attributes. The cabinet is inset with panels of lapis lazuuli, agate, quartz, and various Roman marbles. The pilasters are formed of four gilt bronze standing figures, with gilt bronze capitals with rams heads, on plinths supported by four gilt bronze crowned eagles.
The stand is on lion paw feet, and has a moulded top and gadrooned edge above a central frieze, with Greek key decoration, above two parcel gilt caryatid supports with floral drop swags. On the back panel is a central plaque, with a female mask, centrered by gilt wood sun rays.
History note: Possibly commissioned by a member of the D’Este family, Dukes of Modena and Ferrara (based upon icongraphy of the crowned eagles). Almost certainly acquired by Henry, 4th Earl of Carlisle (1698-1758) and his son Charles, Viscount Morpeth (1719-41) on their grand tour to Italy in 1738-9; then by descent to Frederick, 5th earl of Carlisle (who probably added the regency stands); then by descent at Castle Howard until sold, Sotheby’s, London, 8 July 2015, lot 22.
Purchased with contributions from The National Heritage Memorial Fund, The Art Fund (with a contribution from the Wolfson Foundation), The Pilgrim Trust, The Right Reverend and Mrs Peter Walker Legacy, The Marlay Group, Molly Lowell and David Borthwick, The Society of Dilettanti Charitable Trust, The John Armitage Charitable Trust, Mr Giles Ellwood and Mr Philippe Sacerdot, and The Drawing Matter Trust.
Depth: 43.5 cm
Height: 222 cm
Width: 92 cm
Method of acquisition: Bought (2016-07-11) by Sotheby's
17th Century, Early#
19th Century, Early#
Circa
1625
CE
-
1800
CE
Cabinets such as these were sought-after souvenirs of the Grand Tour, a cultural and educational visit around European countries undertaken by wealthy British travellers in the 18th century. These grand examples were acquired in Rome in 1739 by Henry, 4th Earl of Carlisle (1698–1758) and his son, Charles, Viscount Morpeth (1719–1741). They were installed at Castle Howard, North Yorkshire, where they remained until 2015.
The stands combine female supporters called caryatids, Apollo mask and sunburst motifs, and friezes of the Greek key pattern. They reflect the taste popularized by the influential early 18th-century designer William Kent and are probably ‘the carved gilt frames’ that were commissioned for the cabinets when they first arrived at Castle Howard.
These cabinets (this is a pair with M.13 & A-2016) were made in Rome in the mid-1620s, Previously thought to have been made for a member of the Borghese family, it is now thought much more likely that these cabinets were made for a member of the D’Este family, Dukes of Modena and Ferrara. The crowned eagles which can be seen supporting the bases come from the family’s coat of arms. Made by a variety of highly-skilled craftsmen, the form of the cabinets is after that of contemporary Roman church architecture. Panels of valuable hardstones, including blue lapis lazuli are set into the ebony frame, a technique known as pietre dure. The structure is further embellished with gilt-bronze statuettes and mounts.
Inlay
composed of
quartz
lapis lazuli
agate
Veneer
composed of
ebony
Stand
composed of
mahogany
Carcase
composed of
rosewood
Figures
composed of
gold
bronze
Mounts
composed of
gold
bronze
Decoration
composed of
gold
Figures And Mounts
Panels
Accession number: M.12 & A-2016
Primary reference Number: 209513
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Castle Howard Cabinet" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/209513 Accessed: 2024-11-05 15:30:56
To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:
{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/209513
|title=Castle Howard Cabinet
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 15:30:56|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-209513
To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:
<div class="text-center"> <figure class="figure"> <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa36/M_12_20_26_20A_2106_1_201608_mfj22_dc2.jpg" alt="Castle Howard Cabinet" class="img-fluid" /> <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Castle Howard Cabinet</figcaption> </figure> </div>
Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...