JOHN POLLARD SEDDON (1827-1906) FOR C. SEDDON & CO.
REFORMED GOTHIC ‘GEOMETRIC’ SIDEBOARD, 1865
£1,512
Auction: Day One | Lots 1 to 252 | Wednesday 16th April from 10am
Description
inlaid oak, with brass fittings and mirrored plate
Dimensions
the sideboard 229cm wide, 95cm high, 74cm deep; the mirror 216cm wide, 151cm high
Provenance
Provenance: Joseph Dobson, of Barker and Dobson confectionary (a wedding gift)
by descent to his granddaughter Ethel Dobson
from whom purchased by the parents of the current owner
Footnote
Literature: Cooper J. Victorian & Edwardian Furniture & Interiors, Thames & Hudson 1998, p. 88-89, pl. 191 where a related example is illustrated
John Pollard Seddon (1827–1906) was a British architect and designer known for his contributions to the Gothic Revival movement. His work often blended medieval influences with modern functionality, reflecting his commitment to both historical stylistic elements and contemporary practical requirements.
An example of Seddon’s inventive design approach appeared in the Building News on 2 June 1865, which featured an illustration of an elaborate sideboard. The editors noted that a second, even more detailed sideboard would soon be completed. This subsequent piece, executed in a style inspired by Early Geometrical Gothic, exemplified Seddon’s ability to integrate historical forms with practical considerations. Like the designs of A.W.N. Pugin and J.K. Colling, his work abstracted natural forms, as seen in the ornamental elements of the sideboard. Architectural features included an arcade of miniature columns at the base for storing dishes, a mirror supported by pilasters, and a protective roof. Decorative details, such as enamelled hinges in red and green and painted leather panels with stylized floral motifs, further demonstrated his artistic ingenuity.
His occasional collaborator, J. Coates Carter, remarked that Seddon was "always a modern rather than a medievalist," distinguishing his work from other Gothic Revivalists.