17th-century Augsburg Cabinet

A rare and delightful small travelcabinet with a particularly rich composition.

The fir-wood carcass features marquetrymade from a variety of native woods, including walnut, plum, maple,and boxwood.

The craftsmanship is of exceptionalquality, both inside and out.

It opens with a drop-front panel,revealing seven drawers (the bottom one designed to look like two)and a small door, all decorated with scenes of "villageperspectives" and "wild flora."

The interior of the drop-front paneldisplays a charming, colorful composition of scrolling foliage andflowers, centered around a medallion containing a bird.

The exterior—including the top,sides, and back—is adorned with intricate geometric marquetry,incorporating chevrons, lozenges, and rosettes set within broadpanels of fruitwood, accented by delicate boxwood stringing.

The internal structure is equallywell-crafted, evidenced by the meticulous finish of the drawer boxes,which are joined with dovetails and slide upon intermediate woodenshelves.

The four small turnip-shaped feet, thewrought-iron corner mounts, and the original lock and key are allauthentic to the piece.

Cabinets featuring marquetry of colorednative woods first emerged in the Swabian region ofBavaria—specifically in Augsburg—during the 16th century.

Originally, they were used to furnish"cabinets of curiosities" (Kunstkammern), where artenthusiasts would store their prized possessions, such as coins,medals, and seashells.

Dimensions: H. 19 cm x W. 23 cm x D.15.5 cm

Augsburg – Southern Germany

Early 17th century