An Aesthetic Movement Cabinet, Circa 1875

In addition to his work as decorator and designer of furniture, John Moyr Smith’s talents as an illustrator led to a prolific career as a tile designer of the Victorian era. He worked with firms like Burmantofts, W.B. Simpson, and Minton. Smith was retained by Minton during the 1870s to 80s and designed series of transfer-printed tiles, reproduced in various colorways, the most popular of motifs based on scenes from poems, nursery rhymes, short stories as well as Shakespeare. Smith’s tiles were used as interior decoration, such as fire surrounds, and inlaid on furniture (see J. Banard, Victorian Tiles, Christie’s, New York, 1972, 1979, pg. 27, fig. 16). While the inspiration for the subject on the present lot is unknown, the pattern for the polychrome painted scenes on this cabinet follow the pattern of Smith’s tile series. The outer scenes depict ‘The Delver’, ‘The Snoot,’ ‘The Blossom,’ ‘The Raker,’ ‘The Waterer,’ and ‘The Pruit’. The figures and their positions are reminiscent of Smith’s series entitled ‘The Seasons’ in 1878, illustrating the poem of the same title by James Thompson, that includes seasonal practices like reaping. This is particularly true of the upper four figures who seem to be in the process of harvesting fruit for the purpose of making jam. In the center of the cabinet, the left roundel marked, ‘Aer- Erin- Ye Pruit’ illustrating a woman collecting berries; and the right, ‘Making Ye Jam’ depicting a woman in the process of cooking the berries, and discouraging a young boy from tasting. The last three present amusing allegorical lessons involving jam. The central rectangular panels warn of ‘Ye Naughty Boy Do Steal Ye Jam,’ and ‘Ye Naughty Boy Catched It For Stealing Ye Jam,’ and is illustrated on the cupboard doors that are designed with a locking mechanism. The lower rectangular panel provides a tale of jam as a remedy, ‘Boy When He Is Getting His Sick Physic Ye Amongst Jam.’ The inscriptions throughout read with the pentameter of a poem, as Smith’s other allegorical tile series. The unusual form, open on the sides, coupled with the subject matter, may indicate the cabinet was designed for a kitchen or a pantry, with beauty and utility in mind.