Getty Museum
Pair of Cabinets
Creator
Bernard II van RisenburghFrench Artist · 1696–1766
All works by this person →The four mysterious initials of the stamp B.V.R.B. concealed a dynasty of *ébénistes* of Netherlandish origin whose identity was only uncovered in 1957. Although all used the same Christian name and surname, Bernard II van Risenburgh was the first to stamp his furniture using the monogram *BVRB* ; he is now regarded as the greatest *ébéniste* of the reign of Louis XV. BVRB specialized in furniture
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1750
- Medium
- White oak veneered with bloodwood, amaranth, and cherry, and restorations in hornbeam and Spanish cedar; modern wire mesh screens; gilt-bronze mounts; brass and iron hardware and locks
- Culture
- French
- Department
- Decorative Arts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
- Object ID
- b0364b03-0f82-4de2-a1a3-ff09eaea3602
From the Getty Museum record
Natural objects such as shells, corals, and minerals were probably displayed in these cabinets. The owner could pull out a shelf set beneath the upper doors to rearrange and examine his or her specimens. Many wealthy Europeans maintained such collections in rooms known as curiosity cabinets, where they spent much time in avid study of natural marvels. The wire mesh screens in the upper doors are modern replacements for earlier ones. During the 1700s cabinetmakers often used screens of gilded or plain wire in place of glass on cabinets for displaying books or natural history specimens.
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