A Parlour in 1745

The decoration on this cupboard is known as japanning. It is made by applying layers of varnish and glaze to the surface of wood.

Corner cupboard, probably made in Europe c.1720- c.1740, Object number: 16/2006

If you look closely at this painting, you can see that the furniture shown in the woman’s parlour is similar to the furniture in this room. The tripod table and India-back chairs were popular pieces in the mid-1700s, and were used to show a family’s status.

Portrait of a woman seated in a domestic interior, by Arthur Devis, c.1742, Object number: 71/1979

Horizontal mirrors over the mantelpiece were a new fashion in the mid-1700s. They were used to reflect candlelight, making the parlour twinkle and sparkle at night-time.

Mirror, c. 1725, Object number: 17/2006