Antique Cedar Breakfront Wardrobe by Hill and Sons Sydney

A fine carved cedar breakfront wardrobe by Hill and Sons Sydney.…
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A fine carved cedar breakfront wardrobe by Hill and Sons Sydney. Australian circa 1860. with Hill and Sons paper maker's label to verso. provenance: Bonhams and Goodman Sydney 06/08/2007 Lot 9. Reference: For a pediment carving of almost identical form, refer to the 'Wallalong Bookcase' by Hill and Sons illustrated in Australian Furniture Pictorial History and Dictionary 1788-1938. Kevin Fahy and Andrew Simpson, casuarina Press, Sydney, page 184. It therefore could be suggested that this wardrobe was commissioned for Dr Walter Scott of Wallalong NSW, 245 cm high, 242 cm wide, 60 cm deep

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  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • 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.
  • Verso - Verso is the "back" side of a sheet of paper, art work, coin or medal. The front side is "recto".
  • Breakfront - A design generally found in larger pieces of furniture, such as bookcases, wardrobes and some sideboards. The line of the front is interrupted by the middle section standing out from each end. In a reverse breakfront, the centre section is recessed behind each end. Breakfronted pieces are usually made in three sections the middle and the two wings which are held together by the cornice and pediment, and the plinth on which it stands. The sensible buyer should show caution before buying breakfront pieces, especially bookcases, which are highly desirable and expensive. Always check that the timber, colour, patination, backboards, decoration and thickness of the wood are same in each section.
  • Casuarina - Casuarina, is also known as beefwood (because of its appearance) she-oak, swamp oak, river oak, forest oak and Botany Bay wood. It is a native Australian hardwood, red brown in colour with dark flecks.
  • Pediment - The uppermost section of a tall usually double-heightened piece of cabinet furniture, surmounting the cornice. The pediment can take a variety of forms derived from the architecture of classical antiquity. A broken pediment is of triangular shape, however, the two raised sides do not meet at the apex but are 'broken' the gap between them often ornamented with an urn or finial. Swan-neck pediments are of similar form, although the uprights are gracefully arched, resembling a swan's neck. They are often found, for example, on longcase clocks.

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