bavarikon4UDescription
The Bavarian Elector Max Emanuel of Bavaria (1662-1726) commissioned this cabinet together with a counter-piece and with two magnificent tables from the Augsburg cabinetmaker Johann Georg Esser for the summer rooms in the Munich Residence, which were connected to his apartment.
Augsburg was at that time one of the most important European centres for such magnificent furniture in the so-called Boulle technique. This consists of marquetry made of tortoiseshell with brass or tin, which is applied as veneer to the furniture surface. This can be done in two different variations, both of which can be found on this piece of furniture: The form of the première partie with a light image (brass) in front of a dark background (tortie) and that of the contrepartie with a dark image (tortie) in front of a light background.
The cabinet was used for the storage and presentation of precious objects of the collection. The cabinet is as precious as these objects: the veneers are made of rare materials such as tortoiseshell, precious metals and woods, but also from fossil and pietre dure panels. Artistic carvings as well as engravings and gilding can be found.
The sumptuous cabinet, however, not only reflected the value of the objects preserved inside. With numerous drawers and secret compartments as well as with a small temple-like shrine in the centre of the piece of furniture, the cabinet reveals how cleverly the collectibles were presented.
Author
Cordula Mauß