Description
painted and ebonised wood with gilt embellishments, the Japanese fretwork cornice above a cushion frieze painted with anthemion, above an open shelf backed with panels painted with apples and pomegranates, over two glazed doors and mirrored back, the base with mon-painted frieze above twin panelled doors decorated with pears and lilies, with void below, the side panels decorated with anthemion designs
Dimensions
97cm wide, 239cm high, 49cm deep
Footnote
Literature: Max Donnelly, ‘Cottier and Company, Art Furniture Makers', The Magazine Antiques, June 2001. See pp. 916-925, fig. III for a cabinet of a similar form.
Jeremy Cooper, Victorian and Edwardian Furniture and Interiors, Hong Kong, 1987, fig. 391.
Note: Daniel Cottier began his career as a stained-glass artist in his native Glasgow, and in 1864 set up his own business as a designer in George Street, Edinburgh before moving back to Glasgow in 1867. As an independent designer Cottier was involved in decorating furniture as part of a unified scheme for a number of Presbyterian churches in Glasgow. With the establishment of the firm in London, Cottier took on a number of designers and artists, among them Bruce Talbert, who was briefly associated with the firm.
In 1870 he set up a branch of 'Cottier & Co, Art Furniture Makers, Glass and Tile Painters' in London. This new venture was set up in partnership with the furniture and furnishings designer, Bruce Talbert. The joint expertise worked well and the firm thrived. Within three years it had opened new branches in the United States and Australia.
Little is known about the specific contribution of artists to the making of furniture by Cottier & Co. One such decorator Frederick Vincent Hart also worked for other designers such as E.W. Godwin and this may explain the similarity between Godwin and Cottier furniture, leading to the misattribution of some Cottier furniture to Godwin.