Carved Cabinets

A large, museum-quality, late-16th century, cedar, Venetian, cassone on its original stand ; the sea creature ornament probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568 • This is the only, known, cassone of this type retaining its original stand. • The collection in Italy that it originally came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. • The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. • The inner lid is very practical and can be used for display or serving. The interior offers masses of storage space which is particularly suitable for textiles being cedar which repels moths. • The cassone is a beautiful, rich colour and has developed a lustrous patina. • The cassone is Illustrated & discussed in discussed in ‘Woods in British Furniture Making’, (Bowett) c13 Provenance: Private collection, Mayorca. Private collection, Italy Related to: Cassone in V&A collection, no 4886-1858 Width 177 cm., 70 in., Height 87 cm., 34 ½ in. Depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. With lid open 155 cm., 61 in “Late 16th and 17th century, London inventories confirm that cypress wood chests were relatively common in prosperous households. In 1598 there was a cypress chest in the hall of John Mason, a vintner, valued at 50 shillings. It was the most expensive piece of furniture in the house. Similarly there was a ‘fair cypress chest’ in the great chamber of Adrian Moore, haberdasher, in 1618, and a cypress chest worth £ 9 in the hall of Thomas Willis, a clotherworker in 1630. The chests were sometimes described as ‘great’ or ‘small’ but not otherwise described – presumably they were familiar to the compilers of the inventories. They were placed in halls, chambers and parlours, places where they would have been on prominent view. It is noteworthy that only the chests were imported and not, apparently, the wood. “ (p282, Cypress, Woods in British Furniture making) The decoration is very unusual, and delightful in the array of sea creatures depicted. The connection of the region with the sea is very strong. I have never seen one of these chests on its original stand. The collection in Italy that it came from was a palazzo that it had reputedly been in for generations of the same family and this most likely why the stand has survived. In practical terms, the stand makes the chest a comfortable height to use. The exterior of the chest is a beautiful, mellow colour and has developed a lustrous patina. The top comprises three planks faced with a shallow, cleated, moulded edge nailed on. The front retains its original hasp and lockplate and, as is commonly found, the lock has been removed but, unusually the original ring hinges have survived. The top opens to reveal an inner lid with ring hinges and a brass ring, revealing a large open storage compartment below, the bottom lined with an old fabric. The underside of the lid retains its original penwork and pierced decoration. The central panel depicts sea creatures, sharks, flatfish, monster fish, sea horses, Neptune and mermaids, probably drawn from De la Cosmographie Universelle, livre III, engraving 1550-1568. The panels either side depicting a crown, the sun and unicorns amongst stylised floral sprays. The surrounding naive penwork border features repeats of three naked ladies in the sea, a man wearing an animal mask with two dogs in a forest and a huntsman with two dogs. The floor of the inside of the cassone is upholstered in an 18th century red and yellow striped woven textile the colours of the Catalan flag. The front is decorated with pierced, silhouettes of beasts, trees and figures. The sides are plain with iron carrying handles. On its original stand, with similar decoration, and bearing a cartouche which would have been decorated with the arms of its original owner. Italian, last quarter of the 16th century. Condition Report : Old repair to bottom left moulding of top. Some hairline cracks to top. The hasp, lockplate and ring hinges are original, the lock has been removed. Handles probably 18th century. The inner lid was probably added in the 18th century and supporting mechanism in the 19th century. Exceptional original, lustrous colour and patina. Measures: Width 177 cm. 70 in., height 87 cm. 34 ½ in., depth 68 cm. 26 ½ in. The cassone was the principal piece of furniture in 16th century, Italy. These chests were made as bridal gifts for nobles and aristocrats from cedar specifically for storing their much prized and valued hangings, clothing and linens, as the wood repels moths and the sweet fragrance delicately scents fabrics. Consquently the cassone, as in this example might be decorated with the family coat of arms or with depictions of virtue and edifying episodes from the Bible. A young woman could not be allowed to enter marriage without some instruction. Later, many cassoni were taken apart so that the decorated front panel could be hung as a painting. The stand of this cassone has a cartouche that would have contained a painted coat of arms in the centre which shows that it was conceived for a noble family. Such cypress or cedar chests, incised in bas relief and pyrographically engraved, have long been associated with Venice and typically have a naïve decoration on the exterior. Literature: The 'cypress chests' containing 'arras, counterpoints, costely apparel, tents, and canopies, fine linen, Turkey cushions...

Pure Art Nouveau and good size, three shelf side table. This early and good size, Arts & Crafts period sideboard with its stunning design makes...

There is a sense of reveal and conceal as KOKET takes a beautiful chest in high gloss lacquer and adorns it in metal organic lace, revealing a mesmerizing hint of what lies beneath. Interior opens to four drawers embellished with organic hardware with a finish to match the exterior. Materials & Finishes: Structure: Black Lacquer (High Gloss Finish) Structure Sides: Black Lacquer (High Gloss Finish) Doors Front: Iridescent Peacock Feathers...

Important and rare antique solid walnut cabinet, 19th century. Characterized by a refined hand carving of the wood on the front doors. The...

A fine form two-piece oak Gothic style cabinet in old dark finish with trefoil lined crest surmounting an upper tracery gallery back, over a singl...

This highly important secrétaire-cabinet was crafted for and specially ordered by King George I for the British Ambassador to Russia. From its craftsmanship and materials to its exceptional artistry, it is a work of royal and historic significance that exudes power in each and every detail. The broken pediment at its apex features the simplified royal coat of arms bearing the king’s crown, while the interior is adorned by portraits of the British Royal Family. Placed within the ambassador’s St. Petersburg home, this entirely unique piece of furniture would have been a potent reminder of England's grandeur and political importance. Relations between England and Russia during this period were at an all-time high. Peter the Great had traveled to England in 1698 as part of his widely known “Grand Embassy” tour, wherein he attempted to gain foreign support against the Ottoman Empire. He spent a period of nearly four months there, meeting with King William III and his court on numerous occasions. Noted academic Arthur MacGregor wrote concerning the impact of the trip, “For two decades following Peter's visit, British influence in Russia reached a peak. It manifested itself in social custom, in craft practice and in ships and naval organization... it reached a significant sector of the population before relations cooled once again and the two nations pulled back from this era of unprecedented cordiality.” First and foremost, however, it is a reminder of British might and influence. By the reign of King George I, England had come into its own as a world power. Unique in its design, this cabinet is a reflection of the country’s might. It is crafted from the highest-quality solid walnut and burr walnut adorned by gilded lock plates and engraved hinges. The presence of ormolu at its apex and lining the doors was a rarity for this period, and its addition makes manifest the importance of the design. The outer doors open to reveal multiple interiors, including fifteen separate drawers around a central cupboard; the cupboard doors each bear mezzotint portraits of George I and his father, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Hanover. An etching after the portrait of George I dating to circa 1716 is in London’s Royal Academy. A second, inner pair of doors are adorned by mezzotints of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Queen Caroline and George II), which are both after portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller dated 1716 in the Royal Collection. A final portrait is revealed on the very interior of the cabinet, where a mezzotint of Frederick, Anne, Amelia and Caroline, children of the Prince of Wales, resides. An etching (circa 1715-1720) after this portrait can be found in the National Portrait Gallery (London). Apart from its abundance of royal portraiture, the cabinet features stunning painted decoration, including floral designs as well as clouds, birds and trees in a bucolic motif reminiscent of Eden. Its lower portion is a study in both form and function, featuring a fitted secrétaire-drawer above three additional drawers for storage. The cabinet appears in The Shorter Dictionary of English Furniture by R. Edwards from 1964, a text that is regarded as the bible of British furniture design. Edwards describes it as a “writing cabinet...given by George I to the British Ambassador at the Russian court.” The cabinet was likely made for the 18th-century German diplomat and writer Friedrich Christian Weber, who represented English interests at the Russian court from 1714 until 1719. Although Weber’s tenure as ambassador was relatively short, while in St. Petersburg, he authored his account entitled Das veraenderte Russland (The Present State of Russia), which was published in three volumes in 1721, 1739 and 1740. It may, however, also have been made for George Douglas, 2nd Earl of Dumbarton, who served as ambassador alongside Weber in 1716. Diplomatic relations ceased between the two countries in 1721. In 1928, the cabinet appeared for sale at the International Exhibition of Antiques & Works of Art in Olympia. It had previously been in the collection of the Woltner family of Bordeaux, the celebrated vintners who owned the estate Château Laville Haut-Brion and produced wine of the same name. According to the family, Monsieur Woltner was given the cabinet as a gift from an aunt who lived in Russia for many years. After leaving the Woltner collection, the cabinet was acquired by William Berry...

Fine craftsmanship and lavish carvings abound in this handsome Renaissance Revival Hunt cabinet, which was created in France in the late-19th century from European oak. The cabinet i...

A Chinese Qing Dynasty period red lacquered cabinet from the 19th century, with round medallion hardware and drawers. We have a pair available should you need it (see image 3 for instance), however each cabinet is priced $5,500. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty period, this cabinet features a linear silhouette perfectly complimented by a red lacquered finish. A pair of double doors, fitted with a large medallion, opens to reveal a dark interior made of inner shelves and two hidden drawers offering convenient storage options. The lower section showcases four additional drawers while the ensemble is raised on four straight legs connected to one another through a carved apron in the front. With its clean lines and red finish, this 19th century Chinese Qing cabinet...

19th Century Country French Liegoise Confiturer ~ Cabinet was hand-crafted from dense, old-growth indigenous white oak by the master artisans of Liege. The storied region has centur...

A most useful and decorative item, the mahogany Sheraton Showcase is produced using select solid mahogany and clear, thick glass, allowing visibility into the cabinet from all sides as well as from the top. Great quality construction is visible in the hand carved details which distinguish this glass and wood display cabinet...

Magnificent exhibition quality antique Victorian Italian profusely carved solid walnut pair of side cupboards having superior quality figured walnut tops with a carved edge above a p...

Antique French Victorian Eastlake Style Carved 4 Glass Panel Door Display Cabinet This exquisite French Victorian Eastlake style display cabinet features a beautifully carved design...

19th century french empire influenced mahogany cabinet circa 1890. This cupboard was constructed using a flat pack technique, with panels held in place by bolts. Central door with ...

Impressive & Breathtaking ! This Dutch 19th century Renaissance revival ''Beeldenkast'' (so called Statue cabinet) made out of solid oak. The name refers to the carved statues that...

This magnificent two-part Oriental China cabinet is a true testament to masterful craftsmanship, designed to serve as a grand curio or china dis...

A rare 18th century Italian walnut chest / credenza, Renaissance Period, neoclassical influenced, having two elaborately carved figural statue c...

Piltan is a cabinet that moves between sculpture and function a modular form grounded in visual rhythm and tactile richness. Its name which nods to support and presence reflects its ...

GORGEOUS Antique English oak and mahogany georgian era plate dresser, sideboard, hutch cabinet, server or buffet~~early 19th century These pieces, co...

A tielimu ice chest, the two - part cover is made of two planks, the underside of each has two dovetailed transverse stretchers. One of these covers is cut w...

Display your rifle or shotgun collection in this grand and intricately carved antique gun cabinet. Created in France circa 1860, this important two-piece display piece is crafted fro...

Magnificent 18th-century French armoire, a testament to Louis XV craftsmanship. This imposing walnut wardrobe showcases intricate carvings and a distinctive "chapeau gendarme" crown ...

A Rare and Important 'Swedish Grace' sideboard, cupboard or buffet by Swedish Master, Carl Malmsten delicately constructed of inlaid birch and elmwood depicting a scene of Saint Geor...

An Italian Florentine Renaissance Carved Burl Walnut Fall-Front Writing Cabinet, Circa 1560, 16th century From the Davanzatti Palace Museum in Florence Height: 59 inches x 36 inches ...

Dutch Yew Wood linen press with an upper case paladian acanthus cornice, centered urn with laurel wreath, dental molding, over flanking floral carved doors concealing a fitted interi...

Both monumental and subtle, the Shale Credenza brings the intricacies of nature’s geology indoors. The wood doors are scored vertically across the grain...

Gorgeous Late Qing Dynasty Indochina side chest, early 20th century, with carved apron and sides. Combining utility and aesthetics, this late Qing Dynasty side chest effortlessly str...

From Niagara Furniture a Vintage Councill 2 Part Breakfront in excellent, ready to use in your home, condition. Simple yet sophisticated this beautiful Councill Mahogany Vintage Bre...

A large Dutch colonial cabinet from Central Java, Indonesia, early 20th Century. Teak wood finished in a deep red color, with polychromed frames and carved gilt trim. Bonnet top. ...

Exquisite antique english oak 18th century Georgian era chest of drawers~~brass lion pulls with upper shelf and gallery~~pre-1800 A must have~~gorg...

Red Lacquered Cocktail Cabinet with Carved Lotus Motif and Brass Lotus Handle. A contemporary twist to the beautiful lotus motif inspired from our Phara...

A Swedish Rococo style tall cabinet from circa 1850 with bonnet top, light gray painted finish, glass doors, four drawers, carved skirt and curving legs. Immerse your home in the ele...

A Swedish Rococo cabinet. The bonnet top consists of an impressive overhanging arched pediment cornice. Upper section has three shelves and three small drawers (with teardrop brass ...

Early 20th century French Art Deco Vitrine. Display cabinet, salvaged from super high end jewelry or gift gallery in New York City. Superior quality and construction. Tiffany quality, bronze frame, machined fittings, brass shelf brackets...

This fabulous parcel paint bibliotheque or buffet a deux corps from Southwest France was created in the 19th Century, largely with 17th Century elements. The large variety motifs whi...

An exceptional Spanish vargueno or collector cabinet with a sophisticated assemblage of decorated drawers and cabinets on the interior with columnar accents. The exterior with except...

A Chinese Qing dynasty period dark brown lacquered cabinet from the 19th century, with carved scrolling foliage and medallion hardware. Created...

This rare, magnificent, fully carved, gilded cabinet was a scholar's treasure chest. hand-painted door panels depict the scholar's peaceful retirement life at the village. At one scene, he was tending to his garden while receiving a visitor. At another, he was reading a scroll book...

An Indonesian teak wood cabinet from the early 20th century, with carved panels and bracket feet. Created in Indonesia during the early years of the ...

An antique Chinese elmwood sideboard from the early 20th century, with carved spandrels and bronze hardware. Created in China during the early years of the 20th century, this elm sid...

Charming antique French miniature oak Brittany cabinet with richly hand-carved details. Brittany, France

Spanish writing desks of this period are the most distinctive pieces of Spanish furniture conceived as visual displays of incredible virtuosity. The characteristic decoration of the ...

An early 19th Century, antique German Biedermeier two-part cabinet with a writing flap made of hand crafted shellac polished, partly veneered Mahogany, in good condition. The bottom part of the secretary is composed with two large drawers, standing on four wide wooden legs. The inside consists five drawers and two compartments, particularized by polished brass hardware, columns. The top part of the buffet is composed with one large drawer and two small drawers, the center is consisting a storage compartment with an arched...

This antique chest is unique and beautiful, likely handmade in the Nuristan province of northeast Afghanistan. We estimate it to be crafted in the late 19th to early 20th century. It was built from wood using traditional wedged mortise and tenon joinery, indicating its origin. The front panel is richly adorned with hand-chiseled tribal motifs of stars and flowers. The surface of the wood is beautifully textured. Its natural patina perfectly suits the wabi-sabi aesthetic—celebrating imperfection, timeworn beauty, and authenticity. The chest’s tribal design feels raw yet sophisticated, combining ancient craftsmanship with a timeless sense of modernity. This handmade piece would integrate beautifully into a variety of interiors: it can ground a minimalist or contemporary space with its earthy authenticity, lend soulful warmth to a wabi-sabi-inspired room, and enrich eclectic, bohemian, or globally curated environments. Its strong, geometric lines and understated ornamentation make it highly adaptable, whether used as a statement entryway chest...

This late nineteenth century French Henri II vitrine is constructed of hand-carved walnut and features beveled glass on three sides. Hand carved acanthus leaves detail the sides and ...

A Dutch walnut Rococo Revival bombé vitrine from the late 19th century, with glass doors and single drawer. Created in the Netherlands during the last decade of the 19th century, thi...

Antique Wooden Carved Cupboard with Several Carvings A detailed handcarved wooden buffet or cupboard with several elaborately carved wooden decorations depicting lion, putties, ange...

Mid 20th century Swedish burr elm cabinet circa 1940. Fine quality cabinet which has just be re-finished in our workshop. Elm top surface, below which is a burr veneered double doo...

A small Chinese Qing Dynasty period red lacquer side cabinet from the 19th century, with double doors, two drawers and brass hardware. Created in China during the Qing Dynasty in the...

A large and impressive two-part distressed faux stone painted cabinet in the Hollywood Regency style with fun metal knobs. The cabinet with diamond pattern mirrored...

Pair of mid century scandinavian elm cabinets circa 1950. Very good quality pair of elm cabinets, with empire and art deco influences. Each made in 1 piece, both feature and open a...

Designed passionately and exquisitely by the incomparable talents powering KOKET, the Camilia Cabinet was created to grace the most regal of dining rooms with its elegance and splend...

SATURDAY SALE Blonde polished lacquer console cabinet by James Mont (1904-1978), the father of "exotic modernism" who introduced "orientalis...

This late nineteenth century French Henri II style walnut buffet deux corps features a hand carved cherub with wings at the crown. With solid paneled...

An Important Napoleon III Exhibition-Quality Ormolu-Mounted Carved Cabinet By Maison Guéret of Paris A tour-de-force glazed boxwood cabinet celebrating the art of woodcarving, the monumental vitrine of slight breakfront proportions, with rounded corners, all surfaces carved with the most exquisite designs and refined detail with ormolu banding, the base of tripartite design, the central cupboard door with a carved roundel depicting a triumphant muse, flanked by two doors with carved musical trophies enclosing a single adjustable-shelved interior, the frieze incorporating a further three drawers with slides above; the superstructure with three glazed casements separated by carved and fluted pilasters with ionic capitals; enclosing a red velvet-lined and shelved interior; the tripartite pediment each with rounded cornices, the central tympanum carved with laurel leaves and instruments of the arts & wisdom topped with a carved finial and a draped lambrequin below, the flanking entablatures with cartouches depicting Bacchus and Ariadne below urn finials with carved Vitruvian scrolls and ribbon-tied cascading bunches of laurel leaves, the symbol of triumph. Signed on the cartouche "Guéret Frères...

Antique carved oak two doors Jacobean style china cabinet cupboard hutch buffet mint!

Country French server with two drawers with ring pulls above two raised panel cabinet doors with full storage. The server with scalloped apron and raised on whorled feet. A very plea...

This sculptural sideboard holds a quiet monumentality—its façade a study in balance, depth, and geometric relief. Two symmetrical doors are adorned with deeply carved concentric medallions, each centered within a bevel-edged square that projects from the surface like a wooden echo. Between them, five central drawers offer rhythmic contrast with their horizontal fluting, lending a linear tension to the rounded volumes flanking them. In the style of Charles Dudouyt, this piece reflects the postwar fascination with medieval forms reinterpreted through modernist clarity. The carved motif—a recessed bull’s-eye framed in architectural moldings—recalls the rustic abstraction seen in French design of the 1940s and ’50s, where massing, form, and shadow did the work of ornament. Carved from solid oak, the cabinet is grounded by splayed bracket legs that introduce a subtle kinetic lift. Their flared stance balances the robust body above, suggesting movement held in suspension. The drawer pulls are brass discs, minimal in gesture yet warm in tone, allowing the sculptural surfaces to speak. Inside, the cabinet offers generous storage behind paneled doors, while the drawers glide with dovetail construction and timeworn ease. A visible fissure on one of the door medallions...

Marvelous 19th century French renaissance Revival Night stand / side table in Hunt / Black Forest style with barley twisted columns. Finished on all sides so you are able to place th...

Stunning antique cupboard and display cabinet or bookcase by one of Holland's finest. If you are looking for a truly stylish and top quality crafted, solid wood showcase then this u...

Fine pair of Biedermeier glazed elm display cabinets circa 1840. We are pleased to offer this pair of Swedish biedermeier period vitrines, which offer many possibilities for the hom...