Length. "Blind Man's Buff" and "Judgment of Paris". Natural cotton tabby ground, printed with copperplates in blue. Two scenes alternate vertically, each occupying full width of cloth. One shows four girls playing blind man's buff; the other shows a shepherd, seated at left and three standing women in classical costume. Both selvedges present. Narrow band sen along top. Edges faded and browned.

By the end of the 18th century in Britain, men’s breeches were becoming more tightly fitted, in keeping with the streamlined cut of the coat and waistcoat. Breeches made of machine-knitted cotton and silk became popular, as a knitted fabric gave the ease required for sitting and standing.

The lower section comprises a table on square tapering legs, with a frieze drawer with baize-lined brushing slide (the green baize not original). The recessed upper section comprises a central cupboard fitted with two glazed doors, lined with pink pleated silk; flanked by two pigeon-holes each over a small drawer. The right drawer is partitioned to form three small compartments at the left, the back one with a slope from front to back, and a single main compartment. No fittings (ink bottles etc.) survive.
Above the pigeon-holes are two blind lunette-shaped cavities, and behind these a serpentine-topped board which spans the full width of the superstructure, forming a top to the whole.
The whole is made largely of mahogany, including all three drawers and the backboard of the frieze-drawer cavity. [CHECK the backboard to the superstructure and the top board in better light.] The legs are fitted with square socket brass castors. 
All is veneered in satinwood, with pale stringing and rosewood(?) cross-banding, except for the legs which have dark (ebonized rather than ebony?) stringing. The front face of the top lunettes are inlaid with shells in pale wood against a green-stained ground. The six visible blockings at the top of the legs are also inlaid with shells in oval surrounds, in similar woods.

1790 / 1800, England

1790 / 1800, England

Description