Matthijs Horrix (1775)

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In the eighteenth century French fashions were keenly followed in the Netherlands. Not least among these devotees were the Dutch cabinetmakers. In The Hague Matthijs Horrix was the leading craftsman producing furniture in the French mode. He made this commode in the Neoclassical or Louis XVI style. Typical features are the straight lines and surfaces as well as marquetry ornamentation based on ancient motifs such as the classical vase in the portrait medallion. Yet Horrix was not slavish in his devotion to French fashions. The form of the commode - with a single large door in the centre, concave sides and a gilt bronze base line - is certainly not French. Indeed, the inlay on the central door is characteristic of earlier Rococo decorations, with its irregular rock formations and flowers.  www.rijksmuseum.nl/