Welsh Dresser & Plates C.1860

Exceptional mid 19th.c. Welsh dresser, from the slate quarrying district of Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales c.1860. Well proportioned plate rack with a superb decorative cornice with blind fretwork and turned roundels, over three shelves with unusual crenelated shelf fronts and flanked with bobbin turned half columns and birdseye maple inlay. On a breakfronted base with three drawers over a central back of three drawers with cupboards to either side (internal depth 14") fitted with half depth shelves inside. Decorative elements repeated from the rack, note also the fine inlaid detail to the moulding running along the front edge of the top, the flame mahogany veneers used around the middle drawers and the contrasting inlays to the drawer and door fronts. Inlaid diamond shaped bone escutcheons and original brass knobs. Raised on the original tall bracket feet. Oak sides panels, deal backboards. Excellent colour and condition, cleaned and waxed in our workshops. Cupboard key supplied

.Sold with the full set of 19th.c. willow pattern plates which were purchased together with the dresser. Also a Will for Anne Jones of Rhiwbryfdir in Blaenau Ffestiniog (previously of Bethesda) dated June 1889 which makes specific mention of the dresser. The will stipulates it is to be inherited by her daughter providing her son is married, evidence of the tradition that family dressers were passed down the female line so her son's future wife would likely inherit one from her own family. Also included is a receipt for the purchase of the dresser from the Jones family for £75 in 1969.

Interesting to note the similarity of the decoration on the cornice of this dresser to that found in the fine decorative slate work fireplaces and architectural elements produced in the Dinorwig (Blaenau Ffestiniog) and Penrhyn (Bethesda) workshops from this period.