Elgin of Enfield Adam Style Display Cabinet

It's always a bit of a thrill when you find a much admired piece of dolls' house furniture.

Adam Style Display Cabinet by Elgin of Enfield

So I was very excited to recently find this wonderful cabinet by Elgin of Enfield.

Impressed 'Elgin of Enfield' Underneath

Same Display Cabinet in a Dolls' House in Wallington Hall

I've drooled over this example of it, on display in one of the dolls' houses in Wallington Hall, Northumberland, many times.

The only other example of it that I've come across is in The Book of Tri-ang Furniture for the Dolls' House* by Marion Osborne, where there is a photo of it on the accompanying CD.

[*The furniture sold by Lines Bros. Tri-ang from approx. 1921 to 1925 was made by Elgin of Enfield.]

The "Adam Drawing Room Suite" illustrated in a 1921 Triangtios (Lines Brothers trading as Tri-ang) catalogue shows a very similar cabinet, however, the front is one solid door (i.e. not glazed), hinged on the right-hand-side. The 'carved' detailing is slightly different in the catalogue drawing too. There don't appear to be any known real life examples of the one illustrated in the catalogue.

Marion doesn't speculate as to why the real life example differs so much from the catalogue illustration, though she does preface the chapter in question with the following caution:

"Please remember that these were not mass-produced as understood today; please do not panic at any small variations as such things were allowable." 

Even so, this does seem to be quite an extreme variation.

Shortened Feet

Comparing my cabinet to the other two known examples, it seems that the feet on mine have had the lower section removed. Perhaps one or more of the original delicate feet snapped so the owner shortened them all to match.

My piece measures 12 cm wide, 10.3 cm high (so probably more like 10.8 with full feet) and 2.8 cm deep.

Fabric Lining

The inside back of the cabinet is lined with a very faded pale blue fabric. It looks like a self patterned brocade, possibly silk (though I'm no expert on fabrics and could be completely wrong!)

I would imagine that it's faded down over the years from a slightly stronger, but still fairly pale blue. The pattern on the fabric in mine appears to be slightly different to the one shown on Marion Osborne's CD - the former being a sort of zig-zag and the latter being more leafy or plant-like.

I feel I've certainly been very lucky to find this lovely piece. Now, how long will I have to wait to find the rest of the 'Adam Drawing Room Set' I wonder...😉

Until next time,
Zoe