A pair of unusual George III simulated oak cabinets late 18th century

of bowed breakfront outline, the canopied tops surmounted by urn finials with a moulded cornice above three doors incorporating intricate wire panels, with adjustable shelves

Illustrated, Gordon Nares, Country Life, Newton Surmaville, Somerset - II, September 12th 1952, p. 761, p. 762, figs. 4 and 8. In the hall.

Nikolaus Pevsner, South and West Somerset, Harmondsworth, 1958, p. 255

An impressive and highly desirable pair of cabinets in somewhat house-worn condition. The painted decoration has many chips throughout and there are some old worm holes. The construction seems a bit crude in places; for instance, some of the screws in the hinges go through the sides of the carcass, this could suggest that the cabinets are estate made. The grill panels are loose and have some damage ( you can see the holes in the mesh if you look closely at the catalogue illustrations). Some of the escutcheons are missing. To discuss this lot in greater detail please call Edward Rising or David Macdonald on 0207 293 5107 or 0207 293 5507.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Nares writes, in one, from his series of evocative articles on the house, '...dating definitely from before Wyndham Harbin's time, are the charming pair of domed cupboards that flank the door from the porch at the west end of the hall. They are of extremely graceful shape and proportions, with curved corners and convex domes surmounted by urns; the shelves are protected by wire latticework with a scrolled pattern in the middle (fig. 8). These cupboards which are free standing, were apparently designed to hold books, but they are now used to display china...'

The architectural nature of these cabinets aroused Pevsner's attention. He felt them worthy of mention in his account of the Newton Surmaville Hall, 'the hall is one-storeyed and has original pretty Queen Anne cupboards at the W. end. At the E. end a Queen Anne niche'. This niche, mentioned by Pevsner, is surmounted by a conforming urn finial. It may be that these free standing cabinets formed part of an overall decorative scheme for the hall and could well have been positioned either side of this niche.