Center table, c. 1680
Hans Daniel Sommerexpand_more
Wood, tortoiseshell, brass, pewter, hard stone, ebony, hornexpand_more
Gift of funds from Mr. and Mrs. Atherton Bean and the John R. Van Derlip Fundexpand_more 80.55
On View in Gallery 312expand_more
Hans Daniel Sommer came from a family of German cabinetmakers. Many had worked in France and were well versed in the elaborate decorative techniques favored by the French court. Sommer established his own workshop in western Germany in the 1660s and made ornate baroque furniture for the German nobility.
Sommer specialized in marquetry: thin, decorative veneers made from various materials. He created the arabesques, or scrolling patterns, at the center of this tabletop from pewter and tortoiseshell. Laying thin sheets of the two materials on top of each other, he cut them out together with the aid of a paper pattern, to ensure that the designs would match when assembled. The table has a decorative border of hard stone, brass, and ebony, and figures made from mother-of-pearl.
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Details
- Title
- Center table
- Artist Life
- 1643–1685
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 80.55
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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