Webberley Antiques

Description

A beautiful early Welsh spice cupboard. The oak lined drawers of graduated size retaining original iron ring handles on split pin fixings.

These boxes housed spices such as cinnamon, cloves, black pepper and nutmeg. Some spices were as expensive per ounce as gold and so highly prized and kept under lock and key. There is still a faint aroma of herbs and spices in some of the drawers.

This beautiful hand made box has single oak boards to top and sides and original backboards. It has original forged iron H hinges held with hand forged iron rivets and it is peg jointed throughout.

The oak has developed a lovely warm honey colour and very good patination. The shaped and fielded panel door once had an inset lock but this has been covered and replaced with a blacksmith forged nail which slots into the side case and holds the door shut – a rather charming functional adaptation.

Other than the lock the cupboard appears completely original and the drawers have their original linings and all open and close smoothly.

There are losses to the top board corners and other wear and losses as shown - all entirely normal for a cupboard that has been in regular use for over 300 years. Pine bottom boards are replacements.

A very atmospheric and tactile piece of early Welsh cabinet making in excellent condition for age.

Purchased in 2006 from Brightwells Fine Art Auctioneers Sale of Antiques for £1,400


Dimensions are:

20.25 inches high, 19 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep.
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