A Victorian Walnut Parquetry Inlaid Pier Cabinet
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Origin: English
Period: Victorian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1880
Width: 64 cms
Height: 88.5 cms
An attractively figured parquetry inlaid pier cabinet, intended originally to display porcelain objects or house books. The satinwood strung glazed door opens to three shelves. The top, front, and plinth base all are all finely parquetry inlaid with ebony, satinwood and various different coloured fruitwoods.
The technique of using veneer inlay for embellishing furniture (marquetry, or for geometric designs, parquetry), was first employed during the Italian Renaissance, and spread through Europe, into Germany and in the eighteenth century was particularly favoured by furniture makers in the Low Countries.
In this cabinet the escutcheon has been replaced, and there is a minor split on the top, and over time the whole has warped slightly, causing the door not to quite sit flush. Aside from this, and a few scuffs and scratches commensurate with age, the whole is solid, richly coloured, and well patinated.
