CABINET WITH UPPER SECTION DEPICTING THE COAT-OF-ARMS OF THE ZUR GILGEN FAMILY,
Baroque and later, Lucerne, 18th century.
Walnut, plum, maple, burlwood, and 11 Pietra-Dura panels inlaid with tin fillets. Upper cabinet section with pierced top over upper drawer, on later feet. Front with double-doors, opening up to display an opulent interior with 12 drawers arranged around a central door. The inner central door, in turn, opens up into 9 drawers, 1 of which has a secret compartment. The front parts of the outer drawers and the door are decorated with Pietra-Dura mosaics. The lower section (later, using older elements) , inlaid with the coat-of-arms of the zur Gilgen family in a reserve. Front with 2 paneled doors. 3 keys.
164 x 83 x 172 cm.

Highly restored. Minor losses and signs of use.

The name "zur Gilgen" pertains to a Lucerne patrician family which probably changed its name from Getzenheim or Getzenhans to "zur Gilgen" around 1450, due to a house name, and also spelled their name as "Zurgilgen" or "a Liliis" (Gilg = lily).

The piece of furniture on offer features several peculiarities that are typical of Lucerne furniture. A writing cabinet by Ferdinand Plitzner with very similar pietra-dura inlays from 1710 can be found in Wiesentheid Palace. The place of manufacture of the pietra-dura work is indicated as Augsburg or Bohemia (Heinrich Kreisel and Georg Himmelheber. Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels. Vol. 2. Munich 1983. No. 186.)

Literature with illustration:
Walter R.C. Abegglen, Sibylle E. Burckhardt, Das Luzerner Möbel, Von der Spätrenaissance bis zum Biedermeier, Lucerne 2011. p. 84, No. 25.