A mahogany artists supply shop cabinet

George Rowney is one of the few suppliers of artist's materials to have its origins in the 18th century and it still trades today - albeit no longer in family hands. For many years it was Winsor and Newton's closest rival and other than that company and Reeves, the only art supply company with significant ongoing overseas' business.

During the 19th century the company began to advertise heavily and stated that it had testimonials lauding the superiority of its colours from artists as important as Rosa Bonheur, and it even marketed a new colour, Crimson Alizarin, as being light fast. During 1963 Rowney's was purchased by the Daler Board Company and has traded as Daler Rowney ever since.

This very rare survival dates from around 1900, and would have been used originally to contain and promote Rowney's products in a retail premises. It is interesting to note that the Daler Rowney Company collection holds a gold name board similar to the one offered here, but does not own an example of the cabinet itself.