Chest of Drawers by Johann Adam Sauer, 1785

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Description

Antique chest of drawers with marquetry

fulda
walnut, maple and others
circa 1785

dimensions: h x w x d: 85 … Read more Antique chest of drawers with marquetry

fulda
walnut, maple and others
circa 1785

dimensions: h x w x d: 85 x 120 x 57 cm


antique chest of drawers in the typical style of johann adam sauer with a still baroque form but already classicist surface design.

the ebonised plinth stands on profiled ball feet and corresponds with the edge of the top.
the front of the piece of furniture has multiple bends and curves, the plinth and top follow this shape. The three drawers are each divided into three sections surrounded by diagonally veneered walnut. Framed by light and dark contrasting rosewood and maple inlays, the outer panels are veneered in birch burl and fitted with gilded brass fittings. The centre panels are framed in the same way and marked with floral images in maple. The four dominant vertical divisions of the furniture front feature light-coloured foliage on a dark background, a design element typical of the sauer workshop.
the large, original iron lock mounted in the middle drawer, which locks upwards and downwards and thus closes all three drawers, is impressive. The two other drawers therefore do not require a lock, although there is also a box lock in the top drawer, which was probably added during an older restoration.

the sides of the chest of drawers correspond to the design of the front, they are similarly structured and inlaid using the same types of wood. The classical style is even more clearly visible here with the geometric structure on a straight surface than on the front of the furniture.

the top panel is spectacular, the front edge of which shows the multiple bends of the furniture front.
the marquetry shows a well-filled flower basket with garden tools, framed like a cartouche with the leaf friezes already familiar from the front. The flowers and stems give a hint of the old colour scheme. Not only these inlays, but also those on the front and sides were certainly much more colourful originally than we see today. The blue, red and purple tones have completely faded over the centuries, with only the delicate green colours still partially preserved here.

interesting facts:
johann adam sauer was born in fulda on 14 august 1745 and died there on 30 january 1822.
influenced by his family, which had been rooted in the carpentry trade for generations, he passed his master craftsman's examination in his mid-20s. Under the regency of prince-bishop heinrich von bibra (1759-1788), fulda's economic situation flourished and there was a new demand for luxury furniture. Johann adam sauer set himself apart from his contemporaries with his innovative furniture designs and unusual marquetry and, together with the court carpenter carl philipp arndt, is today regarded as one of the few carpenters in the region who was able to hold his own in the competition with the furniture manufacturer roentgen in neuwied.

furniture by johann adam sauer is in the possession of the vonderau museum in fulda and the bavarian national museum in munich.

it is thanks to the research work of stefan semler that good information on the life and work of johann adam sauer is once again available today. In 1995, semler organised an exhibition in fulda to mark the 250th anniversary of sauer's birth; a booklet written for the occasion is included with the chest of drawers on offer here.

condition:
refurbished and suitable for everyday use with a shellac hand polish.

please compare the following literature:
wolfgang l. Eller - möbel des klassizismus louis xvi und empire p.45 and p.118
stefan semler - johann adam sauer - schreinermeister und ebenist in fulda i have official proof of authenticity such as vintage catalogs,
designer records,
or other literature sources and take full responsibility for any authenticity issues arising
from
misattribution See less