German Baroque chest of drawers, 1750-1760

Beautiful walnut veneer and boxwood inlays embellish this exquisite German baroque chest of drawers. The three drawer body with a rectangular outline, features curved feet and a curved apron. The slightly convex front has a corresponding top.

Historical Background

During the 17th century, the Baroque style had a marked effect upon furniture design throughout western Europe. Large wardrobes, cupboards, and cabinets had twisted columns, broken pediments, and heavy moldings.
In Baroque furniture the details are related to the whole. Instead of a framework of unrelated surfaces, each detail contributes to the harmonious movement of the overall design. The Baroque style was adopted in the Low Countries in the 1620s and extended late into the 17th century, when Germany and England began to develop it.

After the Thirty Years’ War the German territory of the Holy Roman Empire was divided in multiple small principalities. Each court had a slightly different taste and as a result the German Baroque furniture styles vary from region to region. In southern Germany the French influence on furniture design was more prominent than in the western or northern parts, where Dutch and English styles were predominant.

The big centers for the production of  south German Baroque furniture were the cities of Wuerzburg, Bamberg, Bayreuth and Ansbach in Franconia. Additionally the interested noble and clerical clients could go to the biannual sales fair in the city of Frankfurt, where ebeniste or cabinetmakers from various regions and countries were able to present and sell their masterpieces.

The Commode or Chest of Drawers in 18th century Germany

Another part of southern Germany which was dedicated to produce high quality furniture pieces was Bavaria. One type of furniture which became fashionable at the Bavarian court around 1730 was the commode, or chest of drawers.

The cabinetmakers mostly used walnut veneer and added geometric or curved inlays made of ebony, mahogany or local woods. The chest of drawers usually had three drawers. Furthermore, German furniture designers, like their French counterparts, used prestigious brass or bronze fittings to ennoble their furniture pieces. Around 1740 the superbly decorated commodes became part of the preferred furnishing of the rulers representation rooms.

Details of this chest of drawers

This chest of drawers comes in very good, refinished condition. It ships from Germany and includes shipping costs to Boston.

It measures  35.24  x 49.22 x  27.56 inches. (89.5 x 125 x 70 cm)

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