James McNeill Whistler and Edward William Godwin

Harmony in Yellow and Gold: The Butterfly Cabinet

Date 1877-1878
Materials Oil on mahogany with yellow tiling and brass mouldings and glass
Dimensions 303.0 cm x 190.0 cm
Marks None
Further information GLAHA 46396.

Note This cabinet was originally a fireplace designed by the architect Edward W. Godwin as part of a suite of furniture for the designer William Watt for an international exhibition in Paris [link/illustration – photo?]. Godwin, who wanted his furniture to be considered as works of art, asked Whistler to collaborate with him. Whistler painted the mahogany fireplace with golden flowers, clouds and butterflies. Notice that in the areas of shadow under the shelves, he gilded the wood to give a brightening effect. Whistler also decorated the dado and wallpaper. Like Whistler's paintings, the furniture exhibit was intended to form a decorative arrangement in colour, with the orange mahogany wood, brass edging, yellow tiles and golden butterflies of the fireplace, in addition to the yellow wallpaper, yellow brown velvet rug and yellow velvet upholstery on sofa and chairs. Some years after it was exhibited, the fireplace was bought by a collector and converted into a cabinet by replacing the grate with doors adapted from the dado.