Antique display cabinet with 20 drawers

Sweden
Birch
first half of the 20th century

Dimensions: H x W x D: 192 x 79 x 50 cm

Description:
A tall, rectangular piece of furniture standing on block feet, featuring a total of 20 drawers.

The front of the piece is divided into 15 drawers flanked by columns, as well as two doors below.
The drawers are finished with an exceptionally beautifully grained birch veneer, approximately 3 mm thick. This is so-called ‘flamed birch’, whose vibrant grain shimmers impressively in oblique light. This special effect is difficult to capture photographically. It is most authentically conveyed by the accompanying photographs, which show the front of the piece from a strongly oblique angle. However, the wood only reveals its full effect when viewed up close in front of the piece, as the perspective changes and the grain shimmers in different shades depending on the viewing angle.

The doors are veneered with plain-grained birch and divided by wide strips of dark-stained ash. This design continues onto the side panels of the piece.

The drawers are secured against unauthorised access by a sophisticated central locking mechanism. The right-hand column is fitted with a lock and, once unlocked, can be folded outwards. This releases all the drawers simultaneously.
The drawers vary slightly in height. The internal heights range from 4.5 cm for the lowest drawers to 7.5 cm for the taller ones.
Behind the doors there are a further five drawers.

Furniture of this type was used for storing collectables or documents. A pull-out display shelf integrated into the unit at a height of approximately 75 cm allows collectables to be laid out for examination.

On the back of the piece is a small adhesive label bearing the Swedish inscription ‘Gåva av Ing. Landström till Bengt som arv 1939’, which can be translated as ‘Gift from Engineer Landström to Bengt as an heirloom, 1939’.

Condition:
Restored and suitable for everyday use. The shellac polish brings out the best in the wood and emphasises the light-dark contrasts within the grain.

Price: €4,300