A Victorian Painted Pine Shop Counter c.1870-80

SOLD
Origin: British
Period: Mid/Late Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1870-80
Height: 35.5”
Width: 60”
Depth: 21.25”

Of desirable proportions, the pine shop counter, showing its original vanilla yellow painted surface now craquelured and distressed with age, having one compartmentalised drawer at the rear with an vacant void to the lower, the front with carved scroll mounts to three fielded panels, the whole sitting on a plinth base and surviving from the mid to latter Victorian period.

The counter remains in desirable original condition showing a patina and colour that is highly desirable. The paint to the top is nigh on entirely worn away as one would expect. She is structurally sound and all the handle, though painted white, is original. There are rails for a shelf to the interior though the shelf is lacking.

When the Victorian period began most retail shops were small and the counter was the main focus of the shop whether it be for the dispensing of drugs or the ordering of drapery, for instance. Self-service stores were virtually unknown and as such goods were kept in drawers, boxes, tole-ware bins and storerooms. Customers stood in front of the counter and explained what they wanted; the shop worker then brought the items out for the customer to see. That is why you see such a healthy patina to the paint on this piece, with the wear to the top being the most prominent.

A versatile, desirable and attractive piece of useful painted period furniture.
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