This late 18th century mahogany serpentine front sideboard was owned by the influential British nurse, Ethel Gordon Fenwick (1857-1947).
After training as a nurse she became matron of St Bartholomew’s Hospital and went on to promote the training and qualification of nurses. She safeguarded the use of the term ‘nurse’ as a professional title, herself being registered as ‘Nurse Number 1’. Fenwick also founded the Royal British Nurses’ Association and the Florence Nightingale International Foundation.