Arts & Crafts Oak High Dresser by Ernest Gimson (1910s)

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An important Arts & Crafts oak high dresser by Ernest Gimson, 1910s, the upper part with four cupboards each with a pair of doors in a double bow front arrangement above an open plate shelf, the projecting lower part, rectangular with gently bowed centres to its sides, with three frieze drawers above a pair of cupboard doors to the centre flanked by a single door each side, raised on stile supports, solid oak of joined construction with exposed dovetail joints and tenon ends as decorative features, with moulded wood latches to the upper cupboard doors and loop handles to the drawers and lower doors, the edges of the bowed parts of the carcase finely chip carved, 182 cm high, 141 cm wide, 64 cm deep. provenance: Harry Hardy peach (1874-1936), 'Crowbank', Leicester, England, acquired directly from Gimson, Thence by descent to the present vendor. Other notes: born and raised in Leicester, Ernest Gimson (1864-1919) was one of the pre-eminent figures of the English Arts & Crafts movement. In 1884, as a nineteen year-old articled architectural draftsman, he attended a lecture given in Leicester by William Morris after which the two men conversed for several hours, the beginning of an ongoing mutually-admiring relationship based on their shared strong interest in traditional English architecture and craftsmanship. In addition to his work as an architect (including, in 1912, submitting designs in the competition to design the new Australian capital, Canberra), Gimson turned increasingly towards furniture and other handcrafts inspired by earlier English tradition. In the early 1890s he joined with others in moving to the Cotswolds to establish a community of like-minded designer-craftsmen and artists, thus establishing what was to become known as the 'Cotswold School' within the Arts & Crafts movement. The furniture designed by Gimson and made in his workshop is widely regarded as being amongst the finest and now most sought after of English Arts & Crafts furniture. Also raised in Leicester, Harry peach (1874-1936) is today perhaps best known as the founder of Dryad furniture, a highly successful manufacturer of cane furniture, but he was in his work and interests generally another keen believer in Morris's vision to revive and promote traditional English artisanship and to bring good design and craft into as many households as possible. To this end, in 1915, alongside Ambrose Heal and others, he was a co-founder of the design and Industries Association which continues to this day (original slogan: 'Nothing Need be Ugly'). As successful business families in Leicester, the wider Gimson and peach families had been friendly for some years by the time, in the 1910s, peach began furnishing his house 'Crowbank', largely with furniture acquired from Gimson and his foreman (and successor) Peter Waals. The present and following lot are amongst those acquired from Gimson in this period and have remained with Peach's descendants until now.

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Carcase in Furniture - In furniture making, the carcase (or carcass) refers to the main structural components of a piece of furniture, such as the sides, top, bottom, and back, that form the basic frame or skeleton of the piece. In antique furniture, the carcase is usually made from solid wood and is the foundation upon which the decorative elements, such as the drawers, doors, and veneers, are added. In furniture making,is important to have a good and strong carcase to ensure that the furniture is durable and can withstand regular use.
Oak - Native to Europe and England, oak has been used for joinery, furniture and building since the beginning of the medieval civilisation. It is a pale yellow in colour when freshly cut and darkens with age to a mid brown colour.

Oak as a furniture timber was superceded by walnut in the 17th century, and in the 18th century by mahogany,

Semi-fossilised bog oak is black in colour, and is found in peat bogs where the trees have fallen and been preserved from decay by the bog. It is used for jewellery and small carved trinkets.

Pollard oak is taken from an oak that has been regularly pollarded, that is the upper branches have been removed at the top of the trunk, result that new branches would appear, and over time the top would become ball-like. . When harvested and sawn, the timber displays a continuous surface of knotty circles. The timber was scarce and expensive and was used in more expensive pieces of furniture in the Regency and Victorian periods.
Chip Carving - Chip carving, also known as spoon carving is a traditional woodworking technique that involves removing small, V-shaped chips of wood from a flat surface using a carving knife. The technique is often used to create intricate geometric patterns and designs on wooden objects such as bowls, spoons, and boxes.

It is a form of relief carving, which means that the design is raised above the surface of the wood rather than being carved into it. It's a relatively simple technique that does not require a great deal of skill or experience, making it a popular choice for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.
Cane in Furniture Making - Cane, as used to make furniture is harvested from the ratan palm. The rattan palm is a type of climbing palm that is native to tropical regions of Asia and Africa. The stem of the rattan palm, also known as cane, is harvested, stripped of its skin, and then used to make a variety of furniture items. Rattan furniture is known for its durability, lightness and natural beauty. The cane is flexible yet strong and can be woven into various patterns, making it suitable for a wide range of furniture styles from traditional to modern. The furniture made from rattan cane is also known for its durability and resistance to extreme weather conditions. Popular items include chairs, tables, sofas, and cabinets. The natural colour of the cane can be preserved or it can be stained or painted for different looks.
Frieze - An architectural term denoting the flat, shaped or convex horizontal surface of furniture, between the architrave and the cornice, usually found on a cabinet or bookcase, or on desks and tables where it may include drawers, the area between the top and the legs. In ceramics, the term refers to the banding, of usually a repeating pattern, on the rims of plates and vases.
Carcase - The main body of a piece of furniture, built in the solid, such as a chest of drawers, a chiffonier or bookcase. In some cases the carcase may be built in the solid, that is where the entire piece may be made of cedar, oak or other timber. In other cases, the carcase may be out of cheaper timber, such as pine, and the piece veneered and decorated with more expensive timber.
Stile - A cabinetmaker's term that refers to the vertical end members of the framework in a panelled item of furniture. The vertical mid-members are known as muntins.
Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.
Heal & Co. - Heal & Co. was established in London 1810 as a feather dressing factory by John Harris Heal, and in 1818 opened a store in Tottenham Court Road trading as general furnishers.

The business expanded and by the time John Harris Heal's great grandson, Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) joined in 1893, it was one of the largest stores in London.

Ambrose Heal published a catalogue entitled 'Heal's Plain Oak Furniture' in 1898 displaying oak furniture in a cheaper Arts & Crafts style enhanced by ebony and pewter decoration with the oak sometimes darkened by smoking.

The business stayed with the family until 1983 when it was purchased by designer and businessman Sir Terence Conran, and became part of the Storehouse Group. The recession in the late 1980s led to a management buyout which revitalised the company. There was a further change in ownership in 2001 when the business was acquired by Wittington Investments Limited, Heals is still trading from Totenham Court Road at the present time.

The best known member of the Heal family is Ambrose Heal (1872-1959) who was an important patron of the Arts & Crafts movement.

He joined the firm in 1893 and extended its business to include the full range of interior furnishings. he favoured simple well designed furniture that appealed to the emerging middle classes.

He supported upcoming Arts & Crafts designers and co-founded the Design & Industries Association in 1915, which campaigned for "Fitness for Purpose" in industrial production
Loop Handles. - Throughout the Georgian period, a form of loop handle was used on drawer fronts, where the pull was attached to a solid or pierced brass backplate, frequently shaped and scalloped. Keyhole escutcheons were often made in similar design. Towards the end of the 18th century, the backplate was often oval in shape and impressed with a variety of beads and patterns. Smaller loop or ring handles were made, with the circular brass backplate complementing the ring pull
Turning - Any part of a piece of furniture that has been turned and shaped with chisels on a lathe. Turned sections include legs, columns, feet, finials, pedestals, stretchers, spindles etc. There have been many varieties and fashions over the centuries: baluster, melon, barley-sugar, bobbin, cotton-reel, rope-twist, and so on. Split turning implies a turned section that has been cut in half lengthwise and applied to a cabinet front as a false decorative support.
Morris, William - William Morris (1834 - 1896) an architect designer, artist, writer, poet and social activist is regarded as a leader of the Arts & Crafts movement in England.

After studying theology, ecclesiastical history, medieval poetry and art at Oxford University, Morris began work with a firm of architects for a short period.

In 1861 he formed a company Morris Marshall, Faulkner & Co. was formed to design and produce wallpaper, carpets, tapestries and stained glass, and they initially secured ecclesiastical works, later extending to domestic assignments.

In 1874 he took sole control of the company, buying out the other partners, and renaming it Morris & Co.

The origins of his designs can be traced to medieval Gothic styles but his organic flower and bird motifs encouraged later artists to seek inspiration for their designs in nature.
Bow Front - The front is shaped in a gentle curve or bow. Introduced during the 18th century, the bow-front is associated with furniture of the Hepplewhite and Sheraton period, though of course the form continued to be used throughout the 19th century. Bow-fronted pieces are usually veneered, although some were cut from the solid wood. Where veneer is used, the carcase is cut either from pine or deal, or sometimes the front was built up and shaped with small timber 'bricks'. Commonly used on various types of furniture including chairs, settees, chests, side tables, sideboards and display cabinets.
Dovetail Joints - At regular intervals in one board, wedge-shaped projections are cut, which fit and are glued into matching recesses cut in the corresponding board opposite, thus forming a 'dovetail' appearance. One of the strongest joints devised for furniture. Found in most drawers and the joints fixing the tops, bottoms and rails at right angles to the side pieces of most cabinets. Before the invention of the dovetail joint, furniture had been held together by metal or wooden dowels or pegs.
Capital - In architecture, a capital is the topmost member of a column, pilaster, or pier, which sits on top of the shaft and supports the entablature or architrave above it. The capital is typically the most ornate and decorative element of the column, and it can take many different forms depending on the architectural style of the building.

In classical architecture, the most common types of capitals are the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Doric capitals are simple and have a circular shape with a flat top and bottom. Ionic capitals have a more elaborate design with scrolls or volutes (spiral shapes) at the top, and Corinthian capitals are the most decorative, with elaborate carvings of acanthus leaves and other motifs.

In other architectural styles, capitals can take many different forms, such as the bell-shaped capitals of Gothic architecture or the foliate designs of the Romanesque period. The capital is one of the most important architectural element in a building, it is the one that gives the most character and identity to the building.
Important - Important is a word used in the antique trade to indicate an object should be ranked above other similar objects, and is therefore more valuable.

The object could be considered important because it is by a famous designer or maker, has been shown at a major exhibition, is of exquisite workmanship, is rare or is a "one-off", was made for an important patron, and so on.

Even further up the pecking order are objects that are described in catalogue descriptions as highly important or extraordinarily important.

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