Cabinet, amber on a wooden core, probably made in Danzig (modern Gdańsk), Royal Prussia, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, early 18th century

This substantial two-doored cabinet is constructed from a mosaic of clear and cloudy panels applied to a wooden core (this is the incrustation technique) and is supported by five (once six) flattened feet, each one made of small panels of amber stuck onto a wooden core, with ivory strips applied to conceal the joins. The cabinet is surmounted by a figure group of in clear amber of Venus and Cupid, and on the top of the sloping socle on which they are placed, are four clear amber balls, one at each corner; five clear amber urns topped by bouquets of flowers are set below. On the top left of the left-hand door is a picture of a hand with a laurel wreath crowning a branch (?), with the motto 'STET QUOCUNQUE LOCO'. Below is a scene of arrows flying at a target by a tree, with the motto 'NULLI PENELLI BILE TELO'. On the top right of the same door a hand holds a laurel wreath and a sword lies nearby. In the distance is a ship. The motto is 'RECTO TENENTIS MERCES'. Under this scene is one of a stork with a sword in the grasp of its foot, with the motto 'DUM VIGILAT SERVIT'. On the right hand door, at the top left, are three hands appearing from clouds holding swords, with the motto 'NON CEDAM MALIS'. Below this is a scene of a sarcophagus in a grove, the motto reading 'HUIUSQUE'. On the top right of the same door a hand holding smoking torches (?) appears out of a cloud, while another pours water on an anchor. The motto reads 'ABSQUE SPE VITA LABAT' - here Hope is sybolised by th anchor. Beneath this is a picture of a pyramid, with the inscription 'ALIO POENA AUT REMUNERATIO'. On the left side of the cabinet, are six further scenes with mottoes and, as on the front of the doors, they surround a larger oval central landscape without a motto. On the top left corner is a dove carrying an olive branch in its beak, flying over the Ark, and the motto 'MECUM PACEM FERO'. Below is a tree, with the motto 'FRUCTUS ET FLORES GRATI SUNT' and at bottom is a scene of a ship at sea with a rising sun (with a smiling face), and birds flying, and the motto 'INFAUSTUS ORIENS FUCAT'. At the top right corner a hand holds a pair of scales, with the inscription 'PRINCIPIS ARCEI'. Under this is a picture of a sunflower and the inscription 'SOLUS COR MEUM EST......ET (?) APERIT'. At the bottom is a house among trees and a comet, but no visible motto. On the other side of the cabinet are six more scenes again surrounding a larger oval central landscape without a motto. At the top left a helmet and two hands holding a laurel wreath and a sword appear out of a cloud, with the inscription 'IN MANU BELLI FINIS'. Under this is a flower with the motto 'TEMPORE', and at the bottom swims a whale before a distant city, with the motto 'FELIX PARTUS'. On the other side, at the top corner is an island with ships and the motto 'ALOQUE DEFENDOQUE'. Beneath is a plant and the motto 'NEMO NE.....IMPUNE' and at the bottom a fox is drinking at a pool with the motto 'MALO QUALE'.

Given by Col. F. Fearon Tipping

Given by Col. F. Fearon Tipping

This substantial two-doored cabinet is constructed from a mosaic of clear and cloudy panels applied to a wooden core (this is the incrustation technique).

These 19 mottoes and illustrative scenes are in the tradition of 16th and 17th century emblem books, which were illustrated with engravings accompanied by aphoristic sayings exhorting the reader to live a good and virtuous life. Some of the mottoes here have overtones of folklore, some of the bible and some seem to be relatively worldly advice.

The drawers might have held writing implements, jewellery, or gaming pieces. The form of the cabinet recalls other early 18th century cabinets probably from Danzig (modern Gdańsk, Poland).

C.706:1 to 11-1909