LIECHTENSTEIN: Property from the Collection of the Princely House of Liechtenstein.
A SWISS WROUGHT-IRON MOUNTED WALNUT, ASH AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY CUPBOARD 'FASSADENSCHRANK'
BERN, CIRCA 1643
EUR 50,000 - EUR 100,000
Overall inlaid with arabesque panels, chequered bands and brickwork, the rectangular moulded cornice above a rectangular frieze carved with fantastical beasts centring on a cartouche inlaid with initials DM and flanked by coats of arms, the architectural doors dated 1643 and each with an arched recessed panel flanked by fluted columms and supported by a grotesque, flanked and divided by further columns and a pilaster, enclosing a plain interior with two shelves and with an engraved iron trefoil lock, the rectangular moulded plinth base with shaped brackets terminating in claw feet, with brass plaque stamped 3308
257 cm. high x 250 cm. wide x 84 cm. deep
Schloss Vaduz, Liechtenstein, before 2004.
Vienna, 2006.
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
Christie's charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,001. Buyer's premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
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