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拍品專文
This magnificent cabinet was probably executed by the cabinet-maker Jan van Mekeren (1658-1733), who moved to Amsterdam in 1687. Van Mekeren specialised in furniture decorated with naturalistic floral marquetry and a small group of furniture, which can securely be attributed to him, bears witness to his remakable skill. This group consists mainly of cabinets - eight in total - five of which display nearly identical decoration to the doors, with tall flower vases resting on tables. Van Mekeren's pictorial style relates to French prototypes, such as the celebrated 'paintings' in wood by André Charles Boulle (1636-1699), or the engravings by Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer (..,..). Th. Lunsingh Scheurleer, 'Jan van Mekeren, een Amsterdamsche meubelmaker uit het einde de 17de en begin der 18de eeuw' Oud Holland 58 (1941), pp. 178-188.
The present cabinet can be firmly attributed to van Mekeren through several decorative and constructional similarities with other pieces by the cabinet-maker. Several of the large flowers, such as the tulips, roses and carnations, which appear on this example, are virtually identical to those on his other cabinets. In addition, the meandering foliate trails, are composed of flower sprigs and angular strapwork, used to frame the doors, a typical van Mekeren feature. A further similarity is the use of a dark ebony ground for the marquetry, which appears on most of his work. (Th.H. Lunsingh Scheurleer, 'Amerongen castle and its furniture', Apollo 80 (1964), pp. 360-367 and R.J. Baarsen, Nederlandse Meubelen 1600-1800, Zwolle, 1993, pp. 56-59.)
The closest link is with a cabinet by van Mekeren at Belton House, Lincolnshire, which sadly has a replaced base section. Both examples display a combination of floral and ornamental patterns, which differs from the pictorial decoration of the above-mentioned group. Acanthus scrolls have been applied abundantly and have been used to form consoles, which support the flower-vases. A number of parallels in the marquetry of the two cabinets stand out but foremost the vertical divide between the doors, which is decorated with a tripartite foliate trail incorporating acorns and oranges. (R.J. Baarsen, 'Mix and match marquetry', Country Life 182 (1988), pp. 224-227).
We are grateful to Dr. Reinier Baarsen for his help in cataloguing this lot.
The present cabinet can be firmly attributed to van Mekeren through several decorative and constructional similarities with other pieces by the cabinet-maker. Several of the large flowers, such as the tulips, roses and carnations, which appear on this example, are virtually identical to those on his other cabinets. In addition, the meandering foliate trails, are composed of flower sprigs and angular strapwork, used to frame the doors, a typical van Mekeren feature. A further similarity is the use of a dark ebony ground for the marquetry, which appears on most of his work. (Th.H. Lunsingh Scheurleer, 'Amerongen castle and its furniture', Apollo 80 (1964), pp. 360-367 and R.J. Baarsen, Nederlandse Meubelen 1600-1800, Zwolle, 1993, pp. 56-59.)
The closest link is with a cabinet by van Mekeren at Belton House, Lincolnshire, which sadly has a replaced base section. Both examples display a combination of floral and ornamental patterns, which differs from the pictorial decoration of the above-mentioned group. Acanthus scrolls have been applied abundantly and have been used to form consoles, which support the flower-vases. A number of parallels in the marquetry of the two cabinets stand out but foremost the vertical divide between the doors, which is decorated with a tripartite foliate trail incorporating acorns and oranges. (R.J. Baarsen, 'Mix and match marquetry', Country Life 182 (1988), pp. 224-227).
We are grateful to Dr. Reinier Baarsen for his help in cataloguing this lot.