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E.W.Godwin (1833-1886): An Anglo-Japanese taste wa

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E.W.Godwin (1833-1886): An Anglo-Japanese taste walnut table with folding shelves, gilt brass fittings, probably made by Collinson and Lock, circa 1872-5, 74.7cm (29.5ins) high, 81.5cm (32ins) wide (open), 40.6cm (16ins) deep Literature: Susan Weber Soros; The Secular Furniture of E.W.Godwin, Yale 1999, p.146 pl. 211, Jeremy Cooper, Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors, London 1987, pl. 326, Godwin sketchbooks, Victoria and Albert Museum, London. In her book, Susan Soros illustrates a sketch by Godwin for a table with folding shelves from the V & A archives (V & A PD E.255-1963, fol 21) and offers the following footnote to her illustration on p.146 pl 211 'This table is one of the most overtly Anglo-Japanese pieces in Godwin's oeuvre. Nancy Wilkinson has identified drawings in Godwin's sketchbooks of Japanese tansu (V & A PD E.280-1963, fol. 5) taken from Aime Humbert's Le Japon illustre (1870) that show similar features, confirming Godwin's awareness of these forms when he designed the table. The folding shelves seem to be a Godwin adaption, taken from late-eighteenth century Sheraton flap tables, since there is no precedent in Japanese furniture forms' Similar examples are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, National Trust, Ellen Terry Memorial Museum, Smallhythe Place, Kent and are sometimes referred to as 'Smallhythe' tables. Dame Ellen Terry, the Shakespearean actress who lived with Godwin between1868-75 owned a similar table. In recent years, two examples have been sold at auction, with Simon Chorley, Southam, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire,November 30th 2006 and Sothebys London, The Best of British Design from the 19th and 20th Centuries-Paul Reeves: The Auction, 20th March 2008 Lot 38. Here Sothebys suggested that a total of six 'Smallhythe' tables are known to exist.

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