E. W. Godwin Probably Made by William Watt. An Anglo-Japanese Oak & Lattice Statue Stand with Wide Inlaid Top

Attributed to E. W. Godwin and probably made by William Watt, this oak statue or plant stand aligned to the Aesthetic Movement (circa 1860 to circa 1890) and Anglo-Japanese taste, c.1870. The stand has a wide square top with line inlay and a shaped moulded edge, set above simple square legs and an open lattice support structure.

The lattice work supports below the top are constructed with fine dovetail joints at each corner. The square legs are united by an arrangement of straight stretchers in the Japanese style, with an internal Anglo-Japanese fretwork panel forming the lower tier. The design is restrained but highly considered, relying on proportion, exposed construction and fine joinery.

The construction of this stand points strongly to William Watt, particularly the fine dovetail joints, which are constructed in the very same way as the fretwork of the William Watt 1877 writing table at present on loan to the Bröhan Museum.*

References / Provenance

* Comparative construction reference: William Watt 1877 writing table, presently on loan to the Bröhan Museum, with related fretwork construction and fine dovetail jointing. See last image