William Burges (1827–1881) was an English architect, born in London. He trained under Edward Blore and Matthew Digby Wyatt. As well as buildings, Burges was a noted designer of furniture. His Great Bookcase has been described as "the most important example of Victorian painted furniture ever made".
The list attempts to detail the most notable of Burges’s individual pieces of furniture, with their original locations, their dates of construction and their current locations where known. Some significant schemes of Burges furniture are, in essence, entire room fittings, such as the library at Cardiff Castle, and listings of these have not been attempted.
Pieces NameOriginal locationPhotographDateNotesPresent locationSt. Bacchus sideboard1858In the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts. Dated 1858, stained, painted, and gilded wood with marble and iron mounts. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Cunningham, F82.50Detroit Institute of ArtsArchitecture Cabinet The Tower House, Library1858 originally at Buckingham StreetPresent location unknown.Yatman Cabinet1858For the Rev. H. G. YatmanVictoria and Albert MuseumFlax and Wool Cabinet1858For the Rev. H. G. YatmanPrivate collectionWheel of Fortune tableTreverbyn Vean1858-59for Col. C. L. Somers Cocks Private collectionSideboard and wine cabinet, also known as the Mirrored Buffet1859Sold at Vost's Auctioneers, Newmarket, England in 1999.Art Institute of ChicagoWines and Beers sideboard1859For James NicholsonVictoria and Albert MuseumGreat BookcaseThe Tower House, Library1859–62 Originally at Buckingham Street before being moved to The Tower House. Bought at the 1933 contents sale by Kenneth Clark, then director of the Ashmolean, for £50.Ashmolean Museum, OxfordFlax and Wool wardrobeBuckingham Street1859, 1870Private collection.Taylor bookcase1862The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordDante BookcaseThe Tower House, Armoury1862-1869originally at Buckingham StreetPresent location unknown.Chest of drawersThe Tower Housec.1865Originally at Buckingham StreetPresent location unknownChest of drawers with standThe Tower House, Burges's bedroom1865originally at Buckingham StreetManchester City Art GalleryThe Red BedThe Tower House, Burges's bedroom1865-1867 The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordNarcissus washstandThe Tower House, Burges's bedroom1865–1867The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordCrocker Dressing TableThe Tower House, Burges's bedroom1867The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordThe Clock cabinet (escritoire)1867Manchester City Art GallerySide TableThe Tower House1867Birmingham Museum and Art GallerySide Table The Tower House1867Lotherton HallEscritoireThe Tower House, Drawing room1867-1868Present location unknown.Dog CabinetThe Tower House, Day nursery1869Present location unknown.Zodiac settle The Tower House, Drawing room1869–1873 The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordPeacock CabinetThe Tower House, Drawing room1873 Private British collectionAlphabet BookcasesThe Tower House, Library1876 In situCupboard doorsThe Tower House, Drawing room The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordWardrobeThe Tower House, Burges's bedroom Private British collectionPhilosophy Cabinet The Tower House, Guest bedroom1878–79 Private collection of Andrew Lloyd WebberGolden BedThe Tower House, Guest bedroom1879On loan from the Victoria & Albert MuseumKnightshayes Court, DevonVita Nuova WashstandThe Tower House, Guest bedroom1879–80Victoria & Albert Museum, LondonNursery wardrobeThe Tower House, Day nurseryThe Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, BedfordTwo chairsThe Tower HouseWilliam Morris GalleryBronze trefoil tableThe Tower House, Entrance hall1880 Private collection
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