A Biedermeier period chest of drawers from Germany c.1820

View Similar Items

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Germany 1820

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Germany around 1820

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Germany 1820, Walnut

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, South German 1820

Elegant Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, South German 1820

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, South German 1820, walnut

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, South Germany, circa 1820

German Biedermeier Chest of Drawers with Top and Columns from 1820

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Mahogany, Denmark, 1820

Period German Biedermeier Tall Chest

Period Biedermeier Chest of Drawers or Commode

Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, Southern German, c. 1830

1 of 10

A Biedermeier period chest of drawers from Germany c.1820

About the Item

A handsome Biedermeier period chest of drawers from Germany c.1820. This handsome painted chest has traces of the original painted decoration that remained that have now been refreshed and brightened. All antique painted pieces were originally decorated with paint made from natural and organic ingredients that were never meant to be eternal and unchanging. It has only been in the twentieth century that paints began to be manufactured with the explicit goal of lasting as long as possible. The coloured pigments seen in antique painted furniture were often mixed with chalk and milk so the would spread evenly and adhere to the surface but as with anything used daily over time these would wear off and reveal the underlying timber. There is a strong tradition in Germany, Austria, Switzerland as well as the countries of Eastern Europe to always refresh the paint when it reached a certain point of dimness to bring back the original vibrancy. When done sensitively, as in this chest of drawers, the results are as enchanting as when the chest was first created. Please look at the form of the chest which is pure Biedermeier in form. The top drawer is set slightly forward with the two lower drawers set back from the front. On either side of these lower drawers is a tapered pilaster with a crown of stacked moulding that gives definition to the top and bottom of the pilaster. The inspiration to Biedermeier furniture is the classical order of ancient architecture utilizing symmetry and balance. Columns, bases, arches, capitals and architraves all are forms employed by the designers and artisans who created the Biedermeier style. Note that above and below each pilaster are flat blocks with the upper rectangular block framing the top drawer while a square block frames the lower section. All four of the feet that the chest stands upon have the characteristic Biedermeier shape that is square with a slight flare as it reaches the ground. Because all four feet have the same shape they provide an important clue that this chest was originally in a home where it was viewed not only from the front but from the sides as well. This indicates a certain level of affluence because enough candles needed to be lighted as well as a large fire in the hearth in order to provide enough illumination for the entire chest to be seen. While the rectangular top has a simple moulded edge it is painted in a solid colour with a variegated mottling of the paint because it was a surface that was in constant use with trays, platters, candlesticks and other objects placed there for a time before being moved off and other items being used. There was no point to giving any decorative patterning to the top as it was essentially covered most of the time. However the front and sides were another story entirely. They are cevered with a profuse amount of hand applied painted decoration that enhances the architectural appeal of the constructed shape while providing a pleasing visual story. The decoration is centred on the front upon a central oval flanked by winged figures that hold aloft symmetrical swags of boughs. The interior of the oval is filled with an intricate interlocking design that relates to the matched scrolls placed around the exterior of the oval. The lower corners of the bottom drawer also has a pair of figures that are winged but these reference the mythical beasts of antiquity. It is the combination of the antique forms and the draped devices that form the particular allure of the neoclassical decoration seen across the front of the chest. The upper drawer features a horizontal pattern of interlaced tracery that extends across the entire width of the drawer that in keeping with the style of the painting on the lower drawers. The skill of the original artist who created this design is evident in the choice of strong contrasting colours especially the value change from dark to light and back again that creates such a bold effect. All three of the drawers have an oval brass pull on either side with a brass escutcheon (the metal plate that protects the timber as the key is guided through to the interior lock) placed exactly in the centre. The use of brass for the hardware was a more expensive option compared to iron or steel and reflects the overall warmth of the colours used in the chest. Brass also is very reflective in natural light and aided in guiding hands to the correct location when opening and closing the drawers. The sides of the drawers also feature compatible painted decoration also in a neoclassical style with a pair of leafy boughs arranged in swags that are supported by a pair of medallions that flank an oval with related interlaced decoration as seen on the front. Again there is a contrast in the light and dark paint that has been chosen for the decoration that succeeds in visually highlighting the design. This beautiful chest will be an integral part of the design of an interior and will be both as functional and decorative as when it first accompanied a bride to her new home in the early nineteenth century.

Dimensions:
Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 45 in (114.3 cm)Depth: 23 in (58.42 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Painted
Place of Origin:
Germany
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
c.1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
Houston, TX
Reference Number:
Seller: DO181stDibs: U1203058668642