Biedermeier Chest of Drawers, 1820s

Details

Description

Biedermeier chest of drawers with burled edge

southern germany (bavaria)
walnut
biedermeier circa 1820

dimensions: h x w x d: … Read more Biedermeier chest of drawers with burled edge

southern germany (bavaria)
walnut
biedermeier circa 1820

dimensions: h x w x d: 88 x 118 x 57 cm

piece of furniture standing on pointed legs with an exceptionally beautiful walnut veneer pattern and offset burl wood edges.

the two lower drawers are flanked by ebonised half-columns. The upper drawer protrudes slightly above the lower part of the carcase and is supported on the outside by the half-columns.
the grain is mirrored in perfect symmetry and runs through all the drawers and the crosspieces. The structure of the wood is interesting with its clearly contrasting dark areas within the rather light-coloured trunk.
the sides and top are veneered in the same quality.
the key plates in the shape of coats of arms echo the colours of the edge of the top and base. The matching pull knobs were added in an older restoration.

interesting facts:
it is typical of bavarian and especially munich biedermeier furniture that the edge of the top and the plinth moulding are in line with the front and sides, i.e. They do not protrude beyond these surfaces. This is also the case here. As a rule, the top and plinth are merely indicated by a thin thread inlay, by an ink painting or, as in this case, by a different coloured wood. What is remarkable about the chest of drawers offered here is the great height of the surrounding burl edge. The photo, which shows a detail of the back panel, shows that this edge is significantly higher than the actual material thickness of the top panel.
while this technique was actually intended to emphasise the cubism of the furniture and dispense with a protruding top, in this case the top and base are deliberately emphasised.

a chest of drawers made around 1820 in munich for berchtesgaden castle was designed in a very similar way and can either be considered a model for the style here or possibly comes from the same workshop. Please compare: kreisel/himmelheber - die kunst des deutschen möbels vol. Iii fig. 386 or himmelheber - biedermeiermöbel fig. 89.

condition:
restored condition suitable for everyday use with a shellac hand polish. See less