Union National Black Lacquer Chinoiserie Breakfront China Display Cabinet 116"

Description

The Union National breakfront was rated as the finest breakfront in the world. In 1980, after flying in the magazines Lear jet to inspect the factory and the breakfront, the publisher of Leaders magazine rated it as the finest available anywhere in the world. If you've never heard of Leaders magazine, don't be surprised because if you aren't one of the worlds leaders, you can't even buy a copy. Built of solid maple and finished in hand rubbed black lacquer with 42 panes of hand beveled glass. The interior is painted in Chinese (Mandarin) red to contrast with the exterior and show off whatever is showcased within. The whole piece is hand striped in gold with snowflakes, fretwork and scrolls on each panel. To top it off Chinoiserie landscape designs were then hand painted on each door with birds, butterflys, flowers, figures / geishas, bridges and pagodas. Hand Signed along the lower right door by the artist Elsie Connelly. Union National made fewer than 20 of these breakfronts per year while they were in business and even if 2 were ordered with the same description, each would be unique because the artwork was always original.

Elsie Linnea Connelly, 1927 - 2010. Born in Jamestown to Swedish immigrants, August Gust and Bertha Petterson Anderson. She was a 1946 graduate of Jamestown High School. Her first job was with the Jamestown Worsted Mills on Harrison St. During WWII, she worked at Sylvania. She worked in cash and payroll at Watson Mfg. Co. and was a member of the Watson Girls Reunion for over 60 years. Later, she decorated furniture at Burns Case Goods and Union National. She retired in 1994 from the cleaning department of SKF-MRC. She liked writing letters and sending greeting cards. She also enjoyed baking and decorating cookies and cakes. She was once known as the cookie lady at Bush School where she was an assistant Girl Scout leader and received a PTA Life Membership in 1965. When birdhouses became the craze, Elsie decorated many to give to family and friends. She collected cookie jars and the heart was her favorite design. Halloween was always fun and Elsie kidded about being the original witch, having been born on that day.

Condition

Structurally solid, wear from age and use, wear to guilding, scuffing / marking, edge wear / finish loss to base.

Dimensions

86.5"H x 18.5" x 116"L