19th Century Faux Bamboo Chest of Drawers

Historicism -faux bamboo- chest of drawers

vienna (?)
bird’s eye maple, beech
second half of 19th century

dimensions: h x w x d: 85 x 107 x 61 cm

:
a piece of furniture veneered in dark stained bird’s eye maple with five drawers in three rows. The four upper drawers have finely turned pull handles, the lower large drawer, which also extends over the height of the plinth, is lockable and can be opened with a key.
the light-coloured contrasting mouldings, which are carved from beech wood and look like bamboo, are characteristic. They are attached to the fronts of the drawers and the contours of the body for purely decorative purposes. Designed as veritable supporting pillars, they appear to actually play a constructive role on the pilaster strips.
there is a small pull-out tray on the right-hand side.
the upper end is formed by a loose carrara marble top.

this very rare style of furniture has also become known as “faux bamboo” due to the realistic appearance of the imitation bamboo.
it is part of an asian-influenced fashion of historicism, in which chinoiseries, which were popular in the 18th century, were also reissued. In addition, after japan, which until then had been quite culturally reserved for the western world, took part in the 1867 world exhibition in paris, interest in japanese lacquerware also increased. The centre for works of this type was paris, although chinoiserie and japonisme furniture was also created in vienna, venice and other european cultural centres.
you can find out more about this interesting style, which receives very little attention in the german art and antiques trade, in the specialist book: rainer haaff – prachtvolle stilmöbel from p. 568. There you will also find an illustration of a secretary corresponding in style to the chest of drawers offered here.

condition: absolutely authentic and restored with patina preserved.