Cabinet

c. 1640–50

Cabinets made in the German town of Augsburg during the 16th and 17th centuries are famous for their ornate decoration, typically executed in ebony veneer and ivory inlay. This example also includes carved figures, bronze mounts, and panels made from stained wood and ivory. The exquisite craftsmanship is matched by the inventiveness of the interior, which includes a display case, tool chest, and safe-deposit box.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Cabinet: Augsburg (now Germany); internal panels: Eger, Bohemia (now Cheb, Czech Republic)

Date

c. 1640–50

Medium

Ebony, ivory, pine, oak, fruitwood, walnut, iron, steel, silver, brass, gilded brass, tinned brass, glass, paper, silk textile, and bone

Dimensions

Doors Open: 155 × 179.8 × 60.4 cm (61 × 70 3/4 × 23 3/4 in.)

Origin

Augsburg

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Anonymous Purchase Fund