Work box in the form of a peacock

Overview Work box in the form of a peacock German, probably Berlin ca. 1830 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 554 This inventive sewing box in the form of a displaying peacock was likely made in one of the leading cabinetmaking workshops in nineteenth-century Berlin. Its condition is impeccable, owing to the fine cut of seasoned wood and the measures taken by the master to ensure its long-term stability. It is a tour de force of furniture making. According to Dr. Samuel Wittwer, Director of the Palaces and Gardens Berlin-Brandenburg, an eminent German furniture scholar, the present piece is likely a unique creation. The use of distinctive "pyramid" mahogany, that is, mahogany whose grain structure is decoratively figured and culminates in a point, is a strong keynote of high-quality furniture in Berlin from 1815-1835. Even the seemingly simple geometric base shows excellent technique; the veneer is of the finest “pyramid-grained” mahogany and has been skillfully applied to the panels’ concave surfaces, evidence of the cabinetmaker’s mastery. View more