Unusual German Neoclassical Cabinet with Faux-Book Spine Decorated Door

A small architectural table cabinet, veneered in walnut and mulberry, the centre doors enclosing an arrangement of nine various sized drawers with bone knobs, behind a central door a...

The slender secretaire on an unusual high stand with four curved legs dived into quarters, the frame with a central inlaid palmette motif. The fall down writing flap, enclosing a fitted interior with numerous drawers, above and below are two doors enclosing one shelf. The top of the secretaire in form of a classical triangular pediment, the center of which is decorated with an inlaid stylized anthemion. The entire front is very plain and geometrical, divided into six panels inlaid with rectangular fields in light wood. The design of this mahogany secretaire is based on classical Roman and Greek models, in this case the bookcases that were portrayed on frescoes, reliefs and Roman gold glass. As secretaires were not known in Antiquity, Abildgaard designed his secretaire as a cupboard though in such a way, that the two centre doors are actually a fall front writing top. The carved turned underframe is inspired by Etruscan footstools, which were known especially from reliefs and had been reproduced in contemporary prints. Abildgaard designed this piece of furniture far more in accordance with ancient tradition than did the other furniture designer of the day. The most important (and avantgarde) piece of the furniture Abildgaard designed in the first decade of the 19th century, is this secretaire, which marks a real renewal in relation to the secretaires that constituted the master's test for the members of the guild of cabinetmakers at this time. Compared with these, this secretaire is a very light piece of furniture that does not follow the contemporary fashion towards classical architectural decorations such as columns, pillars, architraves, etc. which often endow such pieces. Nicolai Abraham Abildgaard (11 September 1743 – 4 June 1809) was a leading Danish Neoclassical painter who also designed (mostly for his own use) elegant Grecian furniture...

Large and very unusual French Empire bookcase in beautifully figured mahogany veneer. Four glazed doors (original glass), interior with original shelves (two on each level allow an adjustment for larger...

A very rare and elegant Biedermeier cabinet of architectural form. Very simple in design with a fantastic and warm burr-ash veneer, accentuated with ebonized thread inlay, discs and ...

Large six-door library or bookcase with glazed doors with elegant C-shaped glazing bars and dividing pilasters with brass-lined fluting. The library is veneered in mahogany. The stra...

Superb and rare small Louis XVI mahogany library cabinet from the 18th century Very beautiful little piece which is decorated in the upper part with fake books...

Tall French Empire secretaire à abattant featuring a drop-front writing surface and faux book facade. Crafted with rich mahogany ve...

A library bookcase in the manner of the Adam Brothers Constructed in a well figured mahogany, with fine carved detailing; of inverted four-door breakfront form, rising from a plin...