Object of the Day: A Victorian Rococo Étagère

Some refer to these pieces of furniture as an étagère while others would call it a “display” or “china cabinet.” No matter the name, pieces such as this served an important purpose in the Victorian home. They were a place to display the finest crystal and china in the household as well as an extra serving space in addition to a sideboard.

This étagère exhibits characteristics of the Rococo or Louis XV style which was popularized in France. English in origin, the piece dates to the 1840’s. Originally finished in a deep cherry tone, this étagère was most likely ebonized after the death of Queen Victoria. In 1901, as England mourned the passing of the “old Queen,” the practice of ebonizing furniture became a popular way of making a display of mourning (a very revered Victorian tradition).

With intricately carved cabriole legs supporting the entire piece and the elevated shelves, this étagère reads like a textbook of Victorian design. Spindles, piercing, applied ornaments, undulating shelves, scalloped mirrors, fretwork and delicate volutes create an overall look of lightness and elegance. The highly decorative crest-rail takes the form of a “broken pediment” and is flanked by two barrel-arched niches upon gently turned spindles—backed by balloon-back shaped mirrors. The interior of the cabinets are upholstered, housed behind glass topped by carved ornamentation. In true Rococo form, a shell has been carved into the center crest above the middle shelf.

Everything about this étagère speaks to the delicate craftsmanship of the mid-Victorian period. It’s a remarkable piece of furniture and can be studied for hours just to absorb the intricacies of its design and hand-carving.