A very rare and impressive 19th Century Irish well figured, flame mahogany four door breakfront bookcase labelled 'Strahan of Dublin', finely hand carved, of grand proportions, exceptional quality and with gorgeously rich patination and fine grain. The moulded stepped cavetto pediment above an elegantly simple frieze is raised over four cockbeaded single glazed glass panelled doors with brass escutcheons and fabulous corbel and fluted pilaster column detail which open to a shelved interior. The lower section consists of four panelled doors with moulded, fluted detail which open to reveal a fitted shelved interior and are flanked with a further arrangement of fluted pilaster columns with decorative corbel motif detail, all raised on a conforming platform plinth base, labelled 'Robert Strahan, Cabinet Maker & Upholsterer, 24 Henry Street, Dublin, Established A.D. 1776'.
Mahogany Type: 'Santos Mahogany'
Dimensions:
H: 116 in / 295 cm Top W: 124 in / 315 cm D: 24.75 in / 63 cm
Bottom W: 120.5 in / 306 cm
Robert Strahan, Dublin, Ireland
Founded in 1776 as a cabinet maker, Robert Strahan & Co. grew to become one of Ireland's premiere furniture designers, exhibiting at The Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 in Dublin. A walnut table, exhibited at the second London International Exhibition of 1862, showcased their talent for both design and manufacture. Bringing together marquetry, scrolling foliage, masks, strap work and cartouches in a piece of some merit; A fine piece displaying the influence of Thomas Hope and Richard Bridgens, it was illustrated in the Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue for the London exhibition.
Designing and manufacturing for the Office of Public Works, the firm gained the reputation for high quality furniture and were commissioned to design and manufacture for some of the great Irish country houses such as Doneraile Court, Co. Cork and Lisnavagh, Co. Carlow.
The Firm started out trading from 10-11 Chancery Lane. Moving forward 39 years to 1815 and the firm had expanded in to 24-25 Henry Street. In 1845 it expanded further still into 5 Leister Street. In 1870 the firm moved to Abbey Street trading under the family name until 1969.
Stock Reference No: A3254
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