Cabinet on Stand
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-108-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This Cabinet on Stand, created around 1675 by French designer Jean Le Pautre, reflects the opulent spirit of Baroque decorative arts during the reign of Louis XIV. Le Pautre, celebrated for his engraved patterns and ornamental designs, helped shape the lavish aesthetic of French royal interiors, where furniture became an expression of power and refined taste. Though its exact medium remains under study, the piece belongs to a tradition of elaborate cabinets meant to store and display treasures. As furniture, such works combined utility with sculptural presence, often featuring intricate carvi...