1985.671

William Arthur Smith Benson (designer), George Heywood Maunoir Sumner (designer)

Music cabinet and stand designed by W A S Benson and George Heywood Sumner. This piece may have been made by Morris & Co., for whom Benson worked as a designer. The subject of the decoration by Sumner is the ancient Greek bard Orpheus charming the animals. It is executed in the unusual technique of wax stopping, which suited Sumner's style of pictorial design, and was inspired by his study of 14th century Italian chests in the V&A. Heywood Sumner thought that cabinets like this were suitable for delicate decoration, but more homely pieces like hall chests were not.

1889 - 1890

Arts & Crafts

mahogany, boxwood, wax, brass, softwood, oak

veneered, veneered, inlaid

HS