Terms and conditions of use
Sideboard
designed (1867); manufactured (c. 1886-1887)
Medium
ebonised wood, brass, gold paint
Measurements
(a-g) 184.4 × 256.3 × 52.0 cm (overall)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1977
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
This sideboard exemplifies nineteenth-century British taste for furniture in the Japanese manner. Like many artists and designers of his generation Godwin was influenced by the European ‘discovery’ of Japanese art during the 1850s. Godwin never visited Japan, but absorbed the style by studying Japanese art, in particular the woodcut prints that were imported into Europe in vast quantities. It is from the careful handling of space – a feature of Japanese art – that he developed his design concept of ‘solid and void’ vividly displayed in this work.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Inscription
(b) printed in black on enamel plaque on rear u.c.: WM (M underlined) WATT'S / REPRESENTATIVES / TRADEMARK / REGISTERED / (hot air balloon) / HEIRLOOM / 10 & 12 / GRAFTON STREET · / (spiderweb and spider) / GOWER ST (- under T) / LONDON, W.C.
Accession Number
D154.a-g-1977
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Physical description
Two stages, upper: two cupboards suspended in structure of horizontal/vertical bars, lower: drawers and cupboards.