1920s Painted Glazed Cabinet

Code: 10201

Dimensions:

This fascinating and unusual 1920s glazed cabinet came to us in a more distraught than distressed state, with just a fragment of a label attached to indicate its history. It has a wooden frame with rounded Deco curves, with two glazed shelves and ball and claw feet, and unusually has no doors so it's an open display unit.

Using the fragment of label (and a lot of detective work) we established it was made in the Bethnal Green and Shoreditch area by a small reputable Jewish family firm of Cabinet Makers. The Spanglett brothers ran a family business in St Matthew's Row in the 1920s; one of many small furniture workshops in the East End before the war.

So now this interesting piece which had clearly been racketing about for years and was very very much the worse for wear, has been given a new lease of life. The glazing of the sides have been replaced, the upper body of the frame has been repainted in an off-white/pale rey eggshell to tone with the original ball and claw legs which have been left distressed as is. The paintwork has then had a light splattering with darker paint to add a little age. The back of the piece has been revamped with a lovely chintz with Japanese blossom pattern.

We had a lot of fun all round, researching and restoring this interesting piece. It would look good anywhere and has had quite a journey...