An Edward Barnsley figured walnut and sycamore line inlaid serpentine fronted cabinet/bookcase, circa 1957, stamped ‘Barnsley’, inscribed and with full provenance.
Provenance: Mr. Rowland Absalom, commissioned by his mother Mrs. F. R. Absalom; Thence by descent.
Inscribed in ink to the inside of the right base door ‘This Cabinet was designed by Edward Barnsley in 1957 & made by assistant Oskar Dawson for Mrs. F. R. Absalom who gave it to her son Roland [sic]. E. Barnsley May 14th 1957’.
The original keys are strung with an old brown parcel label inscribed ‘Keys of Glazed Cabinet In Walnut made by E. Barnsley & lent by Mrs Absalom‘ referring to the loan of the cabinet for an exhibition at Hay Hill Crafts Centre in 1957. Mrs Absalom also lent pieces for ‘Edward Barnsley, Sixty Years of Furniture Design and Cabinet Making, The Fine Art Society Limited, London, 25 January-19 February 1982’.
The Absalom family were great supporters of the Arts and Crafts tradition, and were considered by Edward Barnsley to be ‘blue chip’ clients, commissioning from him an extraordinary number of pieces amounting to over 170.
Edward Barnsley and Rowland Absalom corresponded about the cabinet between June and August 1957; Rowland and his wife Elizbeth [sic] were very pleased with the cabinet and wrote ‘Dear Edward, We have got the bookcase safely, and what a joy it is!! If I am not being too “presumshuss” I think it is the best thing you have done that I have seen. We have stroked it and caressed it many times – we’re expecting it to purr any minute…‘ In response Edward wrote ‘Dear Rowland, Many thanks for your letter. It is always a pleasure to know that a piece of work is really enjoyed, and in this case I agree with you that it is one of the best things that we have made…‘
This cabinet took 468 hours to make and was supplied in 1957 at a total cost of £232.0.0, the Account Book entry itemises the individual costs of ‘Wood £30.0.0, Glass £6.10.0 & Locks £4.0.0’. If made by the Edward Barnsley workshop today, a similar cabinet would cost £23,000.
