A Fine and Rare William & Mary Marquetry Chest of Drawers on orignal stand.

 English, circa 1690

This chest is profusely inlaid with marquetry depicting birds, flowers, and scrolling floral motifs. The stand comprises one long drawer above barley twist elm legs united by shaped stretchers, also inlaid with marquetry panels, and terminates in bun feet.

This fine example is elevated by the quality and richness of its marquetry decoration, incorporating panels of birds amidst scrolling floral sprays, stylised foliage, and classical urns. Executed in contrasting veneers including walnut, holly, and sycamore, these designs create both visual complexity and tonal warmth.

These depictions carried symbolic resonance. Birds and flowering plants evoked abundance, harmony, and the natural order, aligning with the late 17th century’s growing interest in natural history and the baroque vocabulary of ornament. The dense, symmetrical composition reflects the influence of Dutch marquetry traditions, absorbed into English cabinetmaking during the final decades of the 17th century, particularly through the work of Huguenot craftsmen in London’s flourishing workshops.

The chest remains in exceptional condition, and it is noteworthy that examples retaining their original marquetry-decorated stands are particularly rare. Elm was chosen for the barley twist legs for its strength and resistance to warping, ensuring both durability and elegance.