Lee Wright Antiques and Interiors

Description

A Late 18th Century Walnut and Marquetry Cabinet on Chest, German Possibly Dresden.

This beautiful cabinet with its quite severe architectural form relates closely to pieces produced in Dresden in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These pieces were in turn influenced by contemporary English furniture, the cabinet on chest was a staple of English cabinet workshops throughout the 18th century.

The recessed cabinet doors and drawer fronts, leaving the pilasters to stand proud, is a feature that seems to have been particularly prevalent in German workshops. Aside from the form of the piece itself, its most striking feature is the decorative marquetry employed throughout. There are contrasting light and dark woods inlaid in to the cornice, creating a sort of mock dentilled effect. Panels of stylised Greek key marquetry are used on the cupboard doors, as well as roundels with inlaid borders, and the drawer fronts employ geometric marquetry to each corner. The pilasters all employ geometric marquetry as well.

This is a very eye-catching piece of furniture of high quality and a rather rare, and possibly unique, model.