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Fine cabinetry

AJB Temple

AJB Temple

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On Saturday afternoon we popped over to Amsterdam by motorcycle, returning Sunday evening in order to see the fabulous Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in museumplein. 650 mile round trip was a bit of a slog.

Whilst there we had a look around the Rijks (I have been many times as lived for a time in Nederland) and came across this very fine cabinet. I've seen a lot of Dutch and lowlands cabinetry in my time, much of it made in Antwerpen and the Delft surrounds, but never one like this.

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The photo doesn't give a sense of scale but I would estimate it is about 12 feet wide by maybe 10 feet tall and the the only one I have seen in the flesh with a carved balcony top like that. Reminds me of the minstrel's gallery in the great room at Hever Castle.

Having seen again the quality of craftsmanship and inlay work that was being done in the 1600's to mid 1700's I have to marvel at what they achieved. We are just playing about these days.
 
IMG_4121.JPG

This was super cool too. It's a single seat FK23 fighter plane, ordered by the RAF for WWI, designed by a Dutchman and built by a British company. Never saw action I think. Only weighs 380kg and the pilot gets in by climbing up some recessed steps on the left side, and drops down between the upper wings, with his head poking out over the too presumably. First time I ever heard of one of these.
 
Ah, photo rotation strikes again. This is actually it flying inverted (the pilot fell out). :?
 
Quite an exhibition piece, it would need a very large room to do it justice, as you say that overhanging top is most unusual. I imagine the cabinet breaks down into 3 horizontal layers, it must weigh quite a bit.
 
I'm hopeless with European furniture. Any idea of the date that was made, Adrian?
 
I don't think your link works Andy?

(I don't mind in the slightest)
 
Brilliant museum Adrian.

Your post (nipping over to Amsterdam) makes me so thankful that Covid restrictions are behind us.
 
Mike, this one is fairly recent, it was made for an Amsterdam fine art dealer in circa 1902 as an exhibition piece and was apparently hugely expensive.

However, the museum has some exquisite furniture on display from the 1600's and 1700's made for European collectors of the finest pieces. Some of the inlay work is breathtakingly good. I didn't photograph all that much as my battery was getting low and we were mainly there for the Vermeers.

Interestingly they have stripped Rembrant Van Rijn's so called Night Watchman from it's frame and hung it on a steel stretcher and they are now measuring it for how it reacts to air vibrations. They say that canvas paintings act a bit like sails in very light winds (from air con and people movement) and they are researching ways to damp this effect with a backing. (It's survived since 1642 so far, though has had some bits chopped off!)
 
Yep. Even though I am a "friend" of the Rijksmuseum, the website is pretty hopeless for searching their collection. They actually have one of the finest, if not THE finest collection of European cabinets and tables anywhere in the world. The vast majority are sadly in their storage facilities.

For those interested in woodwork, another nearby museum that is well worth an extended visit is the Het Scheepvart National Maritime Museum across the other side of Amsterdam by the inner harbour. It has the most amazing collection of model and full size ships, a vey extensive collection of cabinets, weapons etc, and great displays of how boats and ships were designed and constructed in wood, including details of tools and techniques.
 
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