 Click on the image to view a larger version | | Lot No. | | *** | | Description: | A Superb Fern Album by Anton Seuffert. A large proportion of Seuffert works have some form of fern or plant imagery. In this vein, fern album books were manufactured containing pressed ferns mounted on pages inside front and back covers of detailed inlay. The front covers always feature a fern in the central design and the back cover, a geometric series of patterns. It would appear that Anton Seuffert worked closely with Thomas Cranwell in the production of these albums. This example has Cranwell's label attached to the inside cover. Thomas Cranwell was a singing teacher from Lincolnshire who migrated to New Zealand in 1862. He was the half brother of Robert Cranwell, a partner in the Auckland cabinetmaking firm of Garlic and Cranwell. The purchasing or gifting of mementos to visiting dignitaries or officials returning to Europe is throught to have provided the Seufferts with a considerable source of customers. The Victorian English were keen collections of flora and fauna from the lands of the new world, and Seuffert pressed albums would have been an ideal accoutrement for a returning upperclass genteel family. These albums were easily transported and would have been a unique novelty in any English drawing room. (Information provided by Brian Peet). Length 48 cm. W.40 cm. D.5 cm | | Estimate: | *** | | Price: | *** | | Category: | Small Wooden Items — Zother | | | | |
