Medal cabinet by William Vile

Medal cabinet

William Vile · 1760

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“Stop to admire this monumental medal cabinet, a masterpiece of 18th-century English furniture. Its elaborate carvings and architectural design made it a fitting showcase for valuable collections, reflecting the refined tastes of its era.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

This imposing medal cabinet, crafted around 1760, immediately commands attention with its rich mahogany and intricate carvings. Designed to house a valuable collection of medals, its grandeur speaks to the wealth and refined tastes of its original owner. The cabinet's form, with its architectural pediment and classical motifs, reflects the prevailing Neoclassical style, even as its robust carving hints at earlier Rococo exuberance. Every surface is alive with detail, from the fluted pilasters to the delicate swags and foliate scrolls. It stands not merely as a piece of furniture, but as a meticulously sculpted object, meant to impress and to protect its precious contents, embodying the height of eighteenth-century craftsmanship and design.

DETAILS
Artist
William Vile
Date
1760
Medium
Mahogany with carved and applied decoration
Location
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Dimensions
Overall: 79 × 27 × 17 1/4 in. (200.7 × 68.6 × 43.8 cm)
Collection
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Culture
British
Credit line
Fletcher Fund, 1964
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What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Medal cabinet
01

The carved pediment at the very top, resembling a classical temple.

02

The detailed floral swags draped across the upper section.

03

The fluted columns (pilasters) on either side of the main doors.

04

The intricate carved feet, shaped like scrolled acanthus leaves.

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THE ARTIST
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