Lot Essay
THE CENTRAL SECTION OF THIS EXTREMELY RARE BOOKCASE HAS BEEN RENDERED AS A TRADITIONAL DUTCH BOOGKABINET, NAMED AFTER THE SERPENTINE ARCHED CRESTING, WHICH SERVED AS THE PRINCIPAL ITEM OF STORAGE FURNITURE THROUGHOUT THE 18TH CENTURY. IN THIS INSTANCE HOWEVER, THE CABINET IS FLANKED BY A BOOKCASE TO EITHER SIDE, WHICH ARE SURMOUNTED BY A CONFORMING ARCHED CRESTING. EACH ARCH IS CENTRED BY A CRISP ROCKWORK AND FOLIATE CLASP. THE PANELLED SIDES SUGGEST THAT THIS BOOKCASE WAS PROBABLY EXECUTED FOR A SPECIFIC ROOM OF THE MEDIEVAL MINDERBROEDERKLOOSTER IN WEERT IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF LIMBURG WHICH HAD CONSIDERABLE 18TH CENTURY EXTENSIONS AND WAS EN SUITE WITH THE WALL-PANELLING. IT IS THEREFORE LIKELY THAT THIS PIECE WAS ALSO MADE IN THAT PROVINCE, WHERE THE PROXIMITY OF LIèGE, WITH ITS RICH FURNITURE-MAKING TRADITION AND FASHION FOR PANELLED ROOMS, UNDOUBTABLY WAS A IMPORTANT INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CABINET-MAKING IN THE NEIGHBOURING DUTCH TERRITORIES.
SEE ILLUSTRATION
SEE ILLUSTRATION