E W Godwin An Important Anglo Japanese Bookcase Painted By Henry Stacy Marks

Item details

Height

217.17 cm

Width

99.06 cm

Depth

49.53 cm

Wear conditions Wear conditions

Good

Wear conditions

Excellent

Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.

Good

May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.

Average

Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.

Apparent Wear and Tear

Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.

Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.

Description

Edward William Godwin (1833-1886) for William Watt, a rare and important Anglo-Japanese walnut bookcase, circa 1871. With brass handles and shield style escutcheon, the lower cupboard with two sliding doors inset with painted panels attributed to Henry Stacy Marks.
See Soros, Susan Weber 'The Secular Furniture of E.W. Godwin' Yale 1999, p. 201, plate 321 for an illustration of a related example.
See also Christie's sale 'Important 20th century design' 26th May 2005, lot 47.
In 1949 Dudley Harbron photographed and recorded a bookcase that he concluded had been made for Dr. George Bird, a friend of Ellen Terry (See Godwin's ledger for 17th September 1871) and the father of Elfrida Bird who married Luke Ionides. That bookcase, now cut-down, together with another corresponding example, was then in the possession of Mrs Lewis Clarke, having been inherited from her grandfather, Alexander Ionides son of Elfrida and Luke. A third bookcase was known to have been in the possession of Mrs Alecco Ionides at about the same time (Soros p.201). Despite Harbron's research and evident interest in these bookcases, they were poorly maintained by their owners, and two were thought to be destroyed (Soros, p.201), whilst one of the examples had its shelved superstructure removed and discarded. Susan Soros notes that this cut-down version is in 'stained oak' but one can clearly see in her illustration (Soros, p.201), it is not made from polished oak at all but exactly like the present example made from walnut. Both being made from walnut and both having identical measurements to their bases gives even more weight towards the most likely event that only one of the three cabinets was completely destroyed and the cut-down version is quite likely to be one of the two thought to have been destroyed, which it partially was. The present example is the only known example in existence to have emerged intact and is therefore unique! The painted panels to the cut-down 'Bird-Ionidies' example depict scenes from Greek antiquity. On the present version there is a painted panel to one side probably by Henry Stacey Marks, the attribution made by Christie's Art department and Susan Weber Soros, and is in good condition. The pencil and watercolour cartoon to the other panel, although quite faded and somewhat distressed, has the feel of Edward Burne Jones's work and interestingly the panels were originally believed to be executed by Burne Jones although Harbron in 1949 maintains the panels were painted by Charles Glidden who died young at 20 years of age. This panel has been attributed to Henry Stacey Marks by Christie's art department. Henry Stacey Marks is well documented to have painted for Godwin, to whom the panel of the present lot is attributed and which is also in the greek style. The figures in the painted panel are of two men helping an injured man and possibly may have been in combat with the knight in the other panel, and again their attire does also point to Greek Mythology. The opposite panel is quite different and depicts a prince or knight about to kiss a maiden or a princess, she is looking into his eyes, reaching out and touching his arm about to kiss. There is a sword lying at his feet and his own sword is held to his waist or in his belt with the blade in view and the point to the earth, it looks as if there may be the tail of what could be a dragon adjacent to the sword and possibly a person that may have been slain lying by the maiden. In the right-hand corner there is a castle with banner flying and a crescent moon beside it. The Ionidies family were probably the biggest and most generous patrons of the arts, building one of the most important and impressive collections in the late Victorian Period, and refined collectors of art from the Aesthetic Movement, Ionides's POOL of artists to choose from was thoroughly connected through his High Society circle of friends which included Edward Calvert and George Frederick Watts, who painted their family portrait when Luke was a child, James McNeill Whistler, Edward Poynter, George Du Maurier, Thomas Armstrong, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne Jones. William Morris, Phillip Webb, Walter Crane and Thomas Jeckyll, all part of his circle of friends, were commissioned to re-decorate 1 Holland Park, their family home, which is all well documented. Henry Stacey Marks (1829-1898) was a painter, watercolorist and illustrator, who worked as a muralist and decorator for Burges, Godwin and Waterhouse. In 1869 Marks was commissioned by Godwin to execute an allegorical frieze to the dining room of Dromore Castle, but due to the incurable dampness of Dromore's enormously thick walls it never came to fruition. An important point is that on the present example there are two brass lock plates to the right-hand side, one in the middle of the central upright that runs through the middle of the bookcase side and another one in the middle of the same central upright but located in the middle of the lower cupboard, these plates (one now missing) were used for joining two bookcases together and would have utilised a brass thumbscrew (also now missing). The sides of this bookcase and the 'Bird-Ionides' bookcase are completely flat from top to bottom which allows for them to butt up perfectly, a design detail that until now was unknown, and which gives even further strength to this present version being one of the very original pair. The present bookcase has a depositary label to the back of Famine's, Colchester and handwritten 'G.M.LAWRENCE', Mrs G M Lawrence, who was the last owner of it. She was one of the last relatives of the Lawrence's who passed away in her 90s in 2004. The Lawrence family owned a very successful lemonade and ginger ale company with factories and warehouses in Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth, Suffolk. It was removed from Mrs G M Lawrence's house by Durrants auctioneers, one of the original houses that was built by the Lawrences in Station Rd, Beccles. At some point in its life it made the journey down from London to Colchester and spent some time there, although exactly where is unknown. It seems its next move would have been from Colchester to Beccles. The measurements of the cut-down version are identical to the lower half of this version, in Soros, Susan Weber - The Secular Furniture of E.W. Godwin the cut-down version measures 35 1/4' high, which is the very same height to the open area of this present version, and again the depth and width of both of these examples are identical 19' deep, 39' wide. The present version measures 89 1/2' high.

Additional dimensions information:

H 85.5 in. x W 39 in. x D 19.5 in.

Material
Manufactured
1800s
Item location
Southwold , United Kingdom
Period
19th Century
Designer
Edward William Godwin
Condition
Used

Cancellations

We offer free cancellations and full refund for orders cancelled before dispatching. View full policy.

Returns

We have a 14-day return guarantee for orders from individual sellers, within the UK and European Union. View full policy.

Estimated delivery time

Less than one week

Free collection available

Yes

The average lifespan of a Vinterior piece is 100 years, while modern flat-pack typically takes just 3 years to reach landfill. When you choose pre-loved, you can shop with confidence in quality, craftsmanship and longevity. With our top-rated customer service team and price match guarantee, there's no better way to shop pre-loved.
Sustainable choice
Choosing pre-owned is better for the planet

Choose a Wishlist

You can add this item to an existing wishlist or create a new wishlist

Create Wishlist

Give your wishlist a memorable name such as "remarkable sideboards"
Professional
4.67 / 5
Located in Southwold, United Kingdom
  • Selling at Vinterior since 2019
  • 37 sales
  • Ships from Southwold, United Kingdom

Seller Reviews

    Elizabeth 24 Dec 2024
    I am really delighted with this Arts and Crafts Pewter plate with 5 blue enamel jewels, it is stunning. I am a great fan of Liberty, so was really pleased to find it on Vinterior. A great piece, thank you. I shall buy again from your shop.
    Verified purchase:Liberty And Co (Attributed). An Arts & Crafts Hand Hammered Pewter Plate With Five Blue Enamel Jewels
    Listing image

    Verified Purchase

    Listing image
    Liberty And Co (Attributed). An Arts & Crafts Hand Hammered Pewter Plate With Five Blue Enamel Jewels
    Silvia 13 Mar 2024
    Beautiful piece. Great communication and prompt delivery
    Verified purchase:Rupert Griffiths. A Late Arts And Crafts Oak Circular Coffee Table With Deep Sculptured Chamfered Details
    Listing image

    Verified Purchase

    Listing image
    Rupert Griffiths. A Late Arts And Crafts Oak Circular Coffee Table With Deep Sculptured Chamfered Details
    John 19 Apr 2022
    Tony delivered the settee himself when agreed after a few delays at his end. Its a great piece of furniture.
    Verified purchase:Arts & Crafts Style Settee With Clover Leaf Carvings And Pegged Construction
    Listing image

    Verified Purchase

    Listing image
    Arts & Crafts Style Settee With Clover Leaf Carvings And Pegged Construction

Cancellations and Returns

Last updated: 24th March 2025

We want everybody’s Vinterior experience to be seamless, so both buyers and sellers can fall in love with pre-loved. We designed our Terms of sale to treat everybody fairly.

However, sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan, and you may need to cancel or return an order.

To prevent this, we encourage you to check listings, photos and descriptions carefully before you buy. If you aren’t sure about a piece’s condition, size, provenance or shipping, just ask; click Contact seller to get in touch. Always contact your seller first if you have any queries, at any point in your purchase.

Our buyers receive the same protection when buying from all our sellers, both professional and verified.

Can I cancel an order?

There are many reasons why you might need to cancel an order, and you'll often be entitled to a refund. To cancel an order, click Create cancellation on the order page.

If you cancel your order before it has been dispatched, you will receive a full refund - including delivery costs. However, if your item has been shipped, delivery costs will not be included in your refund.

Please note: orders of bespoke, personalised or made-to-order pieces cannot be cancelled.

Can I return an order?

We understand that sometimes a piece isn’t the perfect fit. So if you no longer want your order, our returns process will ensure it finds a new home fast.

The Vinterior Guarantee included with your purchase entitles you to 14-day returns - allowing you to return any item within 14 days of the delivery date (except in specific circumstances, detailed below).

You can return your order if...

It isn't what you expected

If what arrives isn’t what you ordered, you can open a return. Just send us some photo evidence that the listing was inaccurate, misleading or misrepresented your purchased piece, and you’ll receive a refund.

You change your mind

If you don’t feel a piece is right for your space, you can return it. Once you request a change of mind return, you’ll be responsible for shipping the piece back to your seller as soon as possible. Delivery costs are non-refundable.

It's damaged in transit

In the rare event that an item arrives damaged or defective, you have a full 30 days from the date of delivery to return it for a full refund.

If your purchase arrives broken, always let us know. If Proovia delivered the piece, we can raise an insurance claim on the seller’s behalf. Or, the seller can raise a claim with their chosen courier.

What can't I return?

Just as there are some orders you can’t cancel, there are some you cant return, too. Personalised, bespoke or made-to-order pieces are non-returnable, and non-refundable. Sellers may also reject your return if the item has been altered in any way.

Please note: pieces on our site are pre-loved, not new. They may show some wear and tear; this is not sufficient grounds for a refund, unless the seller has misrepresented the item’s condition.

Lastly, neither Vinterior nor our sellers are liable for any damages or loss sustained in transit via third parties.

I'm eligible for a return. Now what?

To initiate a return, log into your Vinterior account, then go to the relevant order page and click Create a return. In the return request, be sure to include all the details: the reason for your return, an in-depth description, and photos of any issues or damage.

How will I receive my refund?

Once the seller confirms they’ve received the item (in the same condition it was sent), we will send your refund to your original payment method.

All items are inspected on return. If the seller receives the return with damage they don’t recognise, we will not be able to process your refund and the seller may need to send the piece back to you. You will be required to cover these delivery costs.

Successfully added to cart

0 items

Total

£0.00


Log in or register to continue

Forgot password?

Why Vinterior?

Sustainability
Choosing pre-loved is better for the planet and we'll plant a tree for every order.
Quality
Verified sellers and curated listings help you find one-of-a-kind pieces, built to last.
Ready to ship
Cut out the long lead times by buying and selling furniture already in circulation.
Door to door delivery
Send and receive with ease using our integrated delivery partner, or arrange the most convenient option with your seller.
Customer service
Direct access to our excellent customer service team, throughout your purchase or sale.
Vinterior guarantee
Buy and sell confidently with our price-match guarantee, 14-day return guarantee and free cancellation.

Price match guarantee

If you find the same item listed at a lower price (including delivery) elsewhere, we'll match it for you.

For further policy details click here.

Why buy on Vinterior?
  • 14-day return guarantee
  • Top customer service
  • 100% secure payment

How it works

  1. Send a screenshot of the item from the other website with date and time visible.
  2. Send us the link of the item on Vinterior and on the other website.
  3. We'll check that it's the same item from the same seller.
  4. If eligible, Vinterior matches the price.
Request a price match

Hassle free returns

At Vinterior, we understand that sometimes a piece may not be the perfect fit once it's in your home.

That's why we offer a 14-day return policy, allowing you to return any item within 14 days from the date of delivery for any reason.

How it works

  1. Log in to your Vinterior account and navigate to the order page to begin the return process.
  2. Click on "Create a return" and select the item you wish to return from your order history.
  3. Include the reason for the return and attach photos of any damage if the item is faulty.
  4. Submit the return request, and our team will review it before processing your return and refund.
  5. Our team will support you through the return. Providing expert guidance on packing, courier recommendations, and help manage any queries through the process.
View Return Policy