Having a carved eagle flanked by stylised urns to the top above a verre eglomise panel depicting Charlotte at Werther's tomb, a famous scene from the novel Die Leiden des jungen Werthers, or, The Sorrows of Young Werther by Goethe. The novel, published in 1774, recounts an unhappy romantic infatuation that came to unfortunate end and was a very popular design motif for a period following the publication of the work. The panel signed and dated; L.Phillips, 1792.


Verre Eglomise: A process of decorating glass by drawing and painting on the reverse side and backing the decoration with metal foil, generally gold or silver leaf. The process credited to Jean-Baptisté Glomy (d.1786) who lived on the Rue de Bourbon. Thomas Sheraton utilised the concept in his designs published in the Cabinet Makers' and Upholsterers Encyclopedia (published 1805). Reference: The Dictionary of English Furniture. Pg 363

English, 1792

Height: 56" 142cm

Width: 27" 69cm