CF3

Robert Tuson (Cabinet Maker)

General Description: A glazed bookcase, late 18th century, of breakfront form, with a dentilled cornice over four glazed doors with lancet-arched glazing bars, over four cupboard doors below. (Bowett, Adam, 2013)
Researcher Description: This bookcase was probably supplied by Robert Tuson. The double-bead moulding on the leading edge of the shelves is the same as that on the leading edge of the central divider of the ‘sarcophagus cabinet’, supplied by Tuson in 1772. There are several entries in Charles Rogers’s list of purchases which might refer to this bookcase: "25 October 1759 / Paid Do [Tuson] for an Amboina Cabinet, Table, &c… / £23, -, -." / "22 January 1763 / Paid Mr R Tuson &c for a Cabinet for Drawings &c… / £22, -, -." / "15 August 1764 / Do for Glass Doors of an Amboina Book Case in the Closet / £9,18,0." / "4 November 1776 … / Do for a Cabinet for Classics / £16, -, -." / "7 March 1780 / Pd Mr R Tuson for a Cabinet in the fore-room / £31,19,6. / Mr Jos. Pulley for Glass to Do / £1,19,6." It is impossible to determine which, if any, of these entries refers to the present bookcase, but the use of zebrawood veneers suggests a date in the 1760s or 1770s. This wood is indigenous to Central and South America, and the chief source in the 18th century was Belize (British Honduras). Importations of mahogany and other cabinet woods from this area began in 1763 and shipments of zebrawood, also called palmaletto wood, are recorded until the mid-1770s. The ‘Cabinet for Classics’ delivered in 1776 or the ‘Cabinet in the fore-room’ delivered in 1780 are likely candidates. This bookcase is probably the one shown to the left of the fireplace in the watercolour of William Cotton III and his wife in the library of the Priory, Leatherhead. Before that it was almost certainly in the library at Balham Hill. According to the Reminiscences, the library was 30 feet long, with bookcases all along one wall. There is evidence on the proper right side of the bookcase that it was once attached to something else, and if this bookcase is added to bookcase no. 1 the total length is about 28 feet. (Bowett, Adam, 2013)

The case is of modular construction in six sections (three above and three below), comprising the centre and the two wings, all screwed to each other. The case is entirely mahogany except for the base and top of oak. The back is of oak boards, horizontally aligned and nailed and screwed into a rebate. The upper door frames are mahogany, mortise and tenoned together and hung on butt hinges. The grooves for the shelves are ploughed into the sides. The shelves are deal with mahogany applied to the leading edges. The lower doors are flush panelled in mahogany and veneered, with zebrawood, amboyna and ebony outside, mahogany inside. They are hung on butt hinges. The cornice is mahogany on a deal core, and planted on. The feet of mahogany, supported by deal glue blocks.

, 1760 c. - 1780 c.

London (Cabinet Maker)

wood (mahogany), wood (oak), wood (deal), veneers: wood (zebrawood), veneers: wood (ebony), veneers: wood (amboyna)

Named Collection: Cottonian Collection