BERN, CIRCA 1643

This type of cupboard often referred to as Fassadenschrank, or facade cupboard because of their strongly architectural design was made from South Germany to Switserland throughout the first half of the 17th century. Two examples of such cupboards, made in Bern in the first quarter of the 17th century and 1643 are in the Historisches Museum of Bern, illustrated in H. Kreisel, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, Vol. I, München, 1968, pl. 442 & 443. The first although built in two sections interestingly has a significant shared characteristic: namely the small marquetry panels inlaid with doors shown half opened, these can also be seen on the present cupboard between the recessed arched panels and the ribbed columns. The general design of the present lot more closely follows the second cupboard which also has two doors applied with recessed arched panels flanked to each side by pilasters. However The Liechtenstein example is much richer in its execution than the one in the Museum in Bern; its arched panels are deeper, surmounted by brickwork marquetry and flanked by fully turned fluted columns. The central pilaster is further adorned with a finely carved cherubs mask, and the columns are surmounted by two unidentified coats-of-arms. The coat of arms on the right also appear on an eastern Swiss chest, dated 1550, illustrated in op. cit. plate 167 and also illustrated in W. Trachsler, Möbel der Frührenaissance aus der deutschprachigen Schweiz, Bern 1978, fig. 10