Medal cabinet
ca. 1814–18
Medium
Mahogany, oak, pine, holly; marquetry and veneer of figured oak and holly; ebony and ebonized wood; ivory; silk velvet
Dimensions
Overall (wt. confirmed): 20 1/2 × 21 × 12 3/8 in., 48 lb. (52.1 × 53.3 × 31.4 cm, 21.8 kg)
Classification
Woodwork-Furniture
Culture
British, London
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ignazio Peluso, Ada Peluso and Romano I. Peluso Gift, 2014
Accession Number
2014.67
Art Historical Context
This elegant medal cabinet, crafted by the British cabinetmaker George Bullock around 1814–18, exemplifies the refined taste of early nineteenth-century London furniture. Designed to store and display prized medals, the piece combines practicality with ornamental sophistication, reflecting the period’s growing interest in personal collections and pursuits. Its compact form and rich materials suggest it was intended for a private study or library, where it would have served both functional and decorative purposes. The cabinet’s construction highlights Bullock’s masterful use of contrasting woo...