Dutch Marquetry Cabinet with Classical Designs

• Inlay - Decorative patterns inserted into the main body of a piece of furniture, generally in wood of contrasting colour and grain, though brass, ivory, ebony, shell and sometimes horn have been used. Inlay may consist of a panel of well figured timber inset into a cabinet door front, geometric patterns, or complex and stylized designs of flowers, swags of foliage, fruits and other motifs. As a general rule, in pieces where the carcase is constructed in the solid, the inlay is relatively simple such as stringing, cross banding and herringbone banding. Where more elaborate and decorative work was required veneer was used. Inlay has been fashionable from at least the latter half of the 17th century, when a variety of elaborate forms were developed
• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• Panels - Timber pieces, usually of well-figured wood either recessed or applied over the frames of doors and as decoration elsewhere in the carcase of cabinet furniture. The panels may take a variety of shapes rectangular, square, shield shape, oval, half-round or in the form of Egyptian pylons.
• Paw Feet - A paw foot is a base of a furniture leg that resembles the paw of an animal, such as a lion or bear. It is a decorative feature that is often seen in traditional furniture designs, particularly in styles such as Chippendale, Queen Anne, and Georgian. A paw foot typically consists of a carved or moulded ball or disk at the bottom of the leg, which is then carved or shaped to resemble the toes or claws of an animal. The foot may be smooth or textured, depending on the design, and may be finished in a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, or even marble.
  
  Paw feet are often used on heavier pieces of furniture, such as chests, tables, and chairs, to provide additional stability and support. They are also used as a decorative element, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to the overall design.
  
  "Hairy paw feet" is a term used to describe a variation of the foot design that features a carved or sculpted animal paw, such as a lion or bear, with hair or fur details. The hair or fur details were often carved in a realistic manner and added to the overall decorative effect of the furniture. Hairy paw feet were commonly found on furniture items such as tables, chairs, and cabinets and were popular in the 18th century.  
  
  

• Cornice - The upper section of a high piece of furniture such as a bookcase, wardrobe or cabinet that sits immediately on the main structure. The cornice is usually decorated with a variety of architectural mouldings, worked either with a moulding plane or, from the later 19th century, by machine. The front and side of the cornice are mitred together, strengthened by glue blocks, and the back is generally a simple dovetailed rail to hold the structure together. Cornices are generally, though not always, fitted separately to the piece and are held in place either by screws sunk into the top board or by wooden corner blocks. A pediment may sit above the cornice, but sometimes the terms cornice and pediment are used interchangeably.
• Marquetry - In marquetry inlay, contrasting woods, and other materials such as ivory, shell and metal are inlaid either as panels or in a single continuous sheet over the surface of the piece. The design may be straightforward, such as a shell pattern or a basket of flowers, or it may be infinitely complex, with swirling tendrils of leaves, flowers and foliage, such as one finds, for example, in the "seaweed" patterns on longcase clocks of the William and Mary and Queen Anne periods.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• cabinets, material - walnut 675
• cabinets, period or style
  • Dutch 31
  • Georgian 283