A Flemish repoussé silver-mounted tortoiseshell, ebony and ivory inlaid cabinet-on-stand, Antwerp, mid-17th century

Restricted SpeciesUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

May 18, 02:13 PM GMT

Estimate

10,000 - 15,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from an English Private Collection

A Flemish repoussé silver-mounted tortoiseshell, ebony and ivory inlaid cabinet-on-stand, Antwerp

mid-17th century

the upper section with a hinged lid enclosing a recess and mirror above two panelled doors, enclosing a fitted interior with a central compartment with a door enclosing an ivory and ebony inlaid parquetry floor with three mirrored sides with later silvered and gilt demi-columns with a balustrade enclosing a door above and with a further drawer below flanked by eight drawers, the interior elaborately decorated with chased silver mounts with infant musicians, scrolling foliage, fruit swags and garlands, with a drawer in the frieze with an iron handle each side, on a later ebonised stand with spirally twisted legs and stretcher, the whole with ripple-cut mouldings

157cm. high, 79cm. wide, 41cm. deep; 5ft. 1 3/4 in., 2ft. 7 1/8 in., 1ft. 4 1/8 in.

This lot contains ivory or rhino horn and other restricted materials. Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrictor prohibits the import of certain items (including ivory) to protect wildlife conservation. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory/rhino horn by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

Property of Gustav Leonhardt, the Bartolotti House, Amsterdam;
Sotheby's, London, The Gustav Leonhardt Collection, 29 April 2014, lot 428;
where acquired by the current owner.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE

Monique Riccardi-Cubitt, The Art of the Cabinet, London, 1992.

Thibaut Wolvesperges, Belgian Furniture 1500-1800, Brussels, 2000.

The art of Antwerp cabinet-making was highly regarded in the period 1600-1720 and as a measure of their success, these cabinets were exported all over Europe and symbolised the wealth and prestige of their owners.

The dynamism of the merchants involved in this trade contributed wholly to their success, families such as the Forchondts, the Mussons and Pieter Van Haecht or a little later the Van Soests. Tortoiseshell cabinets experienced great success in Paris and it is recorded that a Parisian dealer Picard, purchased in around 1655, the entire stock belonging to an Antwerp gentleman called Goetkint.

The use of tortoiseshell as a veneer originated in Ancient Rome and when tinted with red pigment was used extensively to embellish these sumptuous cabinets which became so fashionable and sought after during the mid to late 17^th century and Antwerp was a major major centre for the production of these architectural cabinets. Antwerp cabinets in ebony and tortoiseshell in the second half of the 17th century were embellished with engraved or embossed silver plaques, a technique which was also being done in Italy and France. Very few pieces have survived as the value of the decorated panels made it possible for them to be sold separately which contributed to the destruction of these cabinets.

Almost identical repoussé silver decoration with identical mounts on the drawers and doors can be seen on a table cabinet sold Sotheby's, London, 28 October 2008, lot 351.