The Brand Cabinet

Designed by Horace Walpole (born England, 1717–1797) · England · c. 1743

This wall cabinet was designed by English collector, politician, and writer Horace Walpole, for his close friend Thomas Brand. Inspired by classical architecture, it was intended to hold the kind of medals and portrait miniatures young men collected on their "grand tour" of Europe, a rite of passage for aristocratic gentlemen in the 1700s. The ivory reliefs that decorate the cabinet's facade pay tribute to ancient Rome, which was then idealized as a model of artistic, cultural, and political achievement. Their imagery includes ancient portraits and erotic scenes from Roman mythology.

Medium

Padauk, oak, and ivory

Dimensions

134 × 98 × 21 cm (52 3/4 × 38 5/8 × 8 1/8 in.)

Accession

2015.290

Credit line

Harry A. Root and Curtis Chapin Palmer European Decorative Arts Purchase Fund; funds provided by the Antiquarian Society; Mary Waller Langhorne Memorial, Mary Swissler Oldberg European Decorative Arts, and European Decorative Arts General Sales Proceeds funds; purchased with funds provided by Neville and John H. Bryan; Eloise Martin, Richard T. Crane, Jr. Memorial, and Kay and Frederick Krehbiel endowment funds; through prior purchase with funds provided by the Antiquarian Society; European Decorative Arts Purchase Account, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Varley, John G. and Emma A. Notter Memorial, Harry and Maribel G. Blum, and European Decorative Arts General funds; purchased with funds provided by Eloise Martin