A Regency gilt bronze mounted rosewood and parcel gilt inverted breakfront side cabinet


possibly by GillowsThe later marble top above a pair of beaded panelled doors each with anthemion mounted angles centred by a Medusa shield roundel, enclosing two shelves, flanked by palmette clasped leopard monopodiae, on a plinth base, 133cm wide x 43cm deep x 90cm high, (52in wide x 16 1/2in deep x 35in high)
|There is an old Chester paper label to the back of this cabinet inscribed: 'Mr Roberts, Northgate... '.A comparable low open bookcase to the offered lot, dated circa 1810 and of corresponding inverted breakfront form with similar giltwood monopodiae and a bead mounted surround, is illustrated in M. Jourdain, Regency Furniture, 1795-1820, Glasgow, 1948, p.135, fig. 151. Also very similar Medusa mask mounts feature on a set of eight Regency dining chairs executed by a craftsman called G. Stanley who is recorded as having worked for the Gillows firm. This set of chairs sold Christie's. London, 26 January 2006, Fine English and Continental Furniture, lot 129.Such mounts were often decorative devices on early 19th century Neoclassical furniture used as symbols of ancient virtue exemplified by the vanquishing of the winged and serpent-haired Gorgon Medusa by the youthful hero Perseus. But this type of Medusa mount could equally be referring to the shield of Athena since the goddess, upon receiving the severed head of the Gorgon from Perseus, transmogrified it onto the front of her famed shield, the mighty Aegis.