Handcrafted Arts & Crafts wall coat rack in solid oak, enriched with a striking row of relief-moulded majolica tiles depicting white water lilies floating on deep blue water.
Dating from the early 1900s, this large and highly decorative hall rack combines several practical functions in one beautifully composed design. The upper shelf provides space for hats or decorative objects, while the numerous antique metal hooks offer ample room for coats, hats and scarves.
The hooks are not original to the rack. They were added and repositioned at some point in the past, probably to make the piece more practical for everyday use. Four of the larger hooks have sculptural lion-mask mounts and elegantly elongated arms, while three smaller double hooks are fitted along the shaped lower section.
At the centre is an oval mirror with a broad hand-bevelled edge. It is surrounded by a decorative border of small applied floral ornaments. The shaped lower oak section, stepped side brackets and exposed construction details are all characteristic of the Arts & Crafts period.
The warm grain and colour of the oak combine beautifully with the turquoise, cobalt blue, white, yellow and green glazes of the water-lily tiles. These deeply modelled majolica tiles give the piece exceptional colour and decorative presence.
A rare, substantial and highly usable antique hall rack...
Category
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Glass Wall Decorations