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Medal cabinet

Attributed to William Vile British
Attributed to John Cobb British
1760–61
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 512
This medal cabinet, with 135 shallow drawers that can accommodate more than six thousand coins and medals, is one of two cabinets that probably formed the end sections of a larger piece of furniture, called His Majesty's Grand Medal Case. (Its mate is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.) The pair appears to have been commissioned by the future George III; the door of the top section is carved with the star of the Order of the Garter, to which the Prince of Wales had been elected in 1750. Originally the cabinets rested on open stands. William Vile made alterations to both cabinets, the most extensive of which was the filling in of the space between the legs.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Medal cabinet
  • Maker: Attributed to William Vile (British, Somerset 1715–1767 London)
  • Maker: Attributed to John Cobb (British, ca. 1715–1778 London)
  • Date: 1760–61
  • Culture: British
  • Medium: Mahogany with carved and applied decoration
  • Dimensions: Overall: 79 × 27 × 17 1/4 in. (200.7 × 68.6 × 43.8 cm)
  • Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
  • Credit Line: Fletcher Fund, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.79
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Audio

Cover Image for 2142. Cabinet, Coin

2142. Cabinet, Coin

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