Cabinet

Augsburg Cabinet, 17th century

Mathieu VathCabinet, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, polite, furniture restoration, 17th century
EEbénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of a small table cabinet (height 14.3 cm, width 17.3 cm, depth 13 cm), likely a traveling model. It is made of solid wood, with intarsia decoration on all sides. A drop-front conceals eight drawers; in fact, the bottom drawer simulates two. Its composition is very rich, combining eight different wood species. The frame is made of fir, and cherry for the visible parts. Large central panels of sycamore maple are inlaid. Around these, bands of plum wood frame them, then a fillet of […]

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English Cabinet

Mathieu VathCabinet, Vacuum bonding, Marquetry, walnut, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 17th century, 18th century
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of an English cabinet from the late 17th or early 18th century, veneered in walnut and maple. It features the distinctive free-flowing arabesque marquetry known as seaweed marquetry because it evokes the seaweed found on the seabed. Seaweed marquetry is traditionally associated with Dutch and Flemish cabinetmakers of the second half of the 17th century, particularly Gerrit Jensen. Indeed, in 1689, William III of Orange ascended the English throne with his cabinetmakers. Later, religious persecutions on the continent brought others to England. […]

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Small Antwerp cabinet in ebony and tortoiseshell

Mathieu VathCabinet, ebony, Louis XIII, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of a cabinet opening with nine drawers with turned ivory knobs, arranged in five rows: six small drawers in the upper rows, one small central drawer, and two wide drawers in the lower section, each simulating two drawers. The cabinet is set into a base which itself opens with a wide drawer in the frieze. This base rests on four faceted legs, connected by a flat, frame-like stretcher and punctuated with ball feet. This octagonal foot, characteristic of Antwerp furniture, allows us to date this cabinet to around 1660, at the […]

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Cabinet from the late 17th century

Mathieu VathCabinet, walnut, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration
Ebénisterie Mathieu VATH

Don't be fooled by the Directoire-style keyhole escutcheons on this cabinet: it clearly dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. These escutcheons are obviously not original. In fact, the piece retains few original features, apart from the drawers, the frame, and the base. The veneer on the front, sides, and top has been altered. It's quite evident that the locks have been changed and the original escutcheons filled in. Its frame is made of solid cherry, fir, and poplar. It is veneered with […]

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Louis XIII Cabinet

Mathieu Vathviolet wood, Solid Wood, Cabinet, Vacuum bonding, Louis XIII, Veneering - Marquetry, restoration, furniture restoration
Ebénisterie Mathieu VATH

A look back at a fascinating restoration project (at least for me). So fascinating, in fact, that I forgot to take photos at the beginning! This cabinet dates from the 17th century. Its upper section has two drawers in the cornice and two doors. The base features two drawers in the frieze, supported by eight turned feet, and a top on ball feet. Inside, there are twelve drawers and two doors, which conceal a theater and eleven more drawers. The feet and moldings are made of solid pear wood. The rest of the […]

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