Antiques M.S. Rau | William And Mary Oysterwood Chest

This William And Mary-Period Chest Is Distinguished By Oyster Veneering And Circular Inlay. Intersecting Circles Are Inlaid Into The Veneers On The Drawer Fronts And On Top Of The Chest, And The Veneers Have Aged To A Rich And Warm Patina. The Practice Of “Oyster” Veneering Was A Painstaking Process Used On Only The Finest Pieces Meant For The Wealthiest Clientele. In This Process, Paper-Thin Cross-Sections Cut From The Roots And Small Branches Of Trees, Their Concentric Rings Resembling Oyster Shells, Were Laid Side By Side, Producing A Dramatic Decorative Effect. Elevated On Bun Feet, The Chest’S Exceptional Design Also Incorporates Fine Bronze Pulls And Locks. Comparatively Few Period Examples Of This Quality And Condition Are Available Today, Making This An Exceptional Find.

Though The Reign Of William And Mary Lasted Only A Few Short Years, They Ushered In A Distinctive Style Of Furniture And Furniture Making That Still Bears Their Name. Characterized By Dramatic Oyster Wood Veneers And Distinctive Cross Banding, William And Mary Furnishings Represented A More Refined Way Of Living, Replacing Heavy And Often Cumbersome Pieces Of Furniture From The Previous Decades.

Circa 1690

38″ Wide X 22 1/2″ Deep X 36″ High