James Smithies Arts and Crafts exhibition cabinet

James Smithies Arts and Crafts exhibition cabinet

Code: 10856

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SOLD TO A PRIVATE COLLECTION

A stunning and extremely rare and important Arts & Crafts exhibition cabinet designed by James Smithies of Wilmslow, Cheshire c1895.

The secretaire cabinet was exhibited at the important Manchester Arts & Crafts Exhibition of 1895 (alongside pieces by WAS Benson, Edgar Wood, Morris & Co, William de Morgan, to name but a few) and is illustrated (line drawing) in The Studio Vol 5 page 135.

It is in original green and unusually, blue stained ash with beautifully patinated copper panels of maidens, fully signed and dated by James Smithies and leaded opaque bottle type glass panel to top section.

James Smithies was a well known arts & crafts coppersmith in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Amongst other things, he worked at Kirkandrews Church in Scotland c1906, built by James Brown of Knockbres and best known for its Arts and Crafts features by Frank Hallows (cabinet maker) and James Smithies himself. Almost all of Kirkandrews Church is original. The architect was probably G.H. Higginbottom, Manchester, who designed several of James Brown`s other buildings. James Brown`s support for the Arts and Crafts Movement is reflected in his choice of craftsmen as mentioned above.

Approx 57" high, 33" widest and 16" deepest.