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17th Century Dutch Renaissance Oak and Ebony Inlay Four-Door Cabinet Dated 1660

About the Item

This extraordinary cabinet is made of the finest watered oak in the tradition of the Dutch Renaissance during the “Dutch golden age” It is a four-door cabinet made in the Provence of Utrecht in 1660 as is dated on the piece. The arched doors and sides are typical for this province and this type of cabinet is also known as “Utrechtse Poortkast”, or portal cabinet. The piece can be disassembled in two pieces, an upper and a lower cabinet. Above the doors of the lower cabinet sits a hand-carved frieze with a central shield dated 1660 flanked by two cornucopias and an acanthus. The piece was further enriched with many ebony inlaid panels. When this cabinet was made, ebony was more expensive than gold. The amount of ebony on this cabinet makes it a very special piece of furniture. The cabinet has the original forged steel hinges locks and keys. On the interior of the upper cabinet on the right side, an additional vault is situated. The cabinet stands on ebonized bun feet. The piece is of exceptional quality and was made completely in watered oak. Watering is the placing of freshly cut wood in water, usually from nine months to three years, up to ten years for oak. As a result, the minerals, nutrients, and starch present in the wood are dissolved in the water. It used to be thought that this made the wood more durable, but it has been found that watered wood develops fewer hairline cracks when drying and that this is the cause of it being more durable. Prolonged watering also wears out the wood, making it 'quieter', keeping the beams and planks cut from it straight. The cabinet was probably commissioned by a merchant who had taken part in a successful trading expedition and wanted to show off his newly acquired riches. The sheer size of the piece, as well as the craftsmanship of the work, is second to none. The height of the piece is 86.42 inches, the depth (measures at the hull) 24.61 inches, and 29.92 inches at the top. The width is (measured at the hull) 58.46 inches and 68.70 inches at the top. The Dutch golden age The 17th century was an important century for the Netherlands. The region separated from the Spanish Empire and formed its own republic. Dutch merchants established their first colonies in the Americas and opened up trade networks around the world. The Dutch economy flourished as much of Europe's trade began passing through Amsterdam. This money helped foster the arts, leading to the rise of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens. This was the Dutch Golden Age. The strong Dutch economy and celebration of the arts provided the financial and cultural security to inspire middle and upper-class citizens to buy lots of furniture. This was a big change from the sparsely furnished homes of medieval times. Dutch patrons demanded high-quality, comfortable, and stylish products, and furniture makers obliged. Dutch furniture of the 17th century was lighter, more comfortable, and more versatile than in many other parts of the world. A key form of Dutch furniture in the 17th century was the cabinet, a taller furniture item that had replaced ground-level medieval chests. Cabinets were essential furniture items in most Dutch homes, as well as in the Dutch colonies. Since cabinets were generally used to hold valuable items like linens or silverware, they were works of art themselves, and we see some of the most important styles of Dutch furniture applied here. Note: There is a decent amount of ebony veneer incorporated in this cabinet. Ebony is a species restricted under the CITES act. However, the ebony being veneer, makes the total weight of the ebony way below its restrictions, as well as the fact the piece was made in 1660. It can therefore be freely shipped across borders.

Dimensions:

Height: 86.42 in (219.5 cm)Width: 68.71 in (174.5 cm)Depth: 29.93 in (76 cm)

Style:

Renaissance (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Ebony,Oak,Steel,Forged,Hand-Carved,Polished,Veneer

Place of Origin:

Netherlands

Period:

Mid-17th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1660