Furniture

An exceptional piece of furniture, this magnificent 17th-century Danish console and/or work table, also known as an arbejdsbord at the time, is crafted from solid oak. Its clean, functional lines are typical of early Scandinavian furniture, featuring integrated drawers in the front (practical yet unadorned), distinctive brass rings, and a low crossbar for added rigidity—essential before modern techniques. The style is clearly pre-Baroque. The straight legs, slightly flared at the bottom, have a square cross-section without turning, characteristic of Danish furniture of this period. The absence of balusters, common in Southern Europe at the time, reflects the Nordic tradition, influenced by climatic constraints and Lutheran culture, which valued restraint and functionality. This status piece likely belonged to a learned owner or manager whose primary function was bookkeeping, writing with a quill pen, or managing a business or workshop.