Small and Beautiful 17th Century Oak Livery Cupboard c. 1680

A rather unusual small oak livery cupboard or child’s cupboard being only 41 inches high, 26 inches wide and 12 inches deep.

Beautiful rich colour to the oak and each of the three fielded panels to each door are well carved with lozenge with U-gouge borders and centred with an open flower head and with a deeply carved pinwheel at each corner. Strong and exuberant carving by a very skilled hand.

Peg jointed throughout, the stiles and muntins to the doors and side panels and have sloping sills (to collect less dust) and channel carving to add further detailing – all of which would have been expensive additions when this cupboard was made and it indicates that a very high quality finish was wanted in a very small cupboard. It makes me wonder if this was commissioned for a much loved child.

The backboards are original. There are marks, knocks and repairs and some alterations as the stiles would originally have extended to form the feet but have been replaced (probably because the stiles had worn down completely) with these old and attractive bun feet. The hinges are late 18th or early 19th century cast in solid brass and are replacements for the original blacksmith forged H hinges.

One section of the original board is missing to the base. One shelf appears original and one is later.

The whole a good colour and very usable. A charming, unusually small and handsome piece of 17th century English furniture.