Baroque chest of drawers. Germany, ca. 1740

Baroque chest of drawers. Germany, ca. 1740.
Walnut wood.
Measurements: 80 x 130 x 73 cm.

German Baroque chest of drawers made in the mid-eighteenth century, a time when the late Baroque in the Germanic territories evolved towards Rococo, adopting more fluid lines and a lighter but still sumptuous ornamentation. Built in walnut wood, it has the typical undulating structure of Germanic Baroque furniture from the middle of the century, with a markedly bombé drawer front and sinuous profiles that add dynamism and elegance. Walnut, with its rich and marked grain, is worked here through veneers and assemblies that visually enrich the entire surface.

The chest of drawers is organized into three large drawers, each of them ornamented with chiseled bronze handles and keyholes with asymmetrical shapes and vegetal motifs, characteristic of the late Baroque decorative repertoire. These metal sconces not only fulfill a practical function, but are integrated as essential elements of the ornamental design. The carved legs, of small height but great expressiveness, complete the set with a scroll decoration typical of the transition to Rococo.

It is a robust but proportionate piece of furniture, representative of the Central European craftsmanship refinement of the period and of the courtly taste that promoted this type of furniture with powerful lines and elegant ornamentation.