German Baroque Dresser, South Germany 1750

German Baroque Dresser, South Germany 1750.

This exquisite German Baroque dresser stands out for its beautiful walnut veneer with marquetry details in plum wood. The three drawers commode has a curved front and an ebonized base. The brass fittings are original.

Historical Background

During the 17th century, the Baroque style had a marked effect upon furniture design throughout western Europe.

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.

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 dresser

The dresser measures Height: 33.08 in. (84 cm)Width: 42.52 in. (108 cm)Depth: 24.41 in. (62 cm). It comes refinished and French polished. The dresser ships from Germany and includes shipping costs to Boston. 

Please contact us by email, call us or chat with us on the site for any further questions.