Collection

Description

Typical of the late Gothic period were two-storey cabinets, which were used for the safekeeping of valuable textiles. They often came from the sacristies at prosperous monasteries and churches, as is very likely the case with this elaborate specimen. It shows the then burgeoning technique of veneering: To take advantage of the charm of their colour, grain and lustre, precious woods, in this case maple, were cut into thin sheets and glued onto a cheaper backing layer. This contrasts with the very finely carved tracery panels backed with colour, in which the craftsman was able to let his imagination run free in the creation of geometric shapes.