Secretary Bookcase

Optical illusions abound as the eye is drawn into the fantastical, architectural settings depicted on this bookcase. The realistic portrayal of the elaborately detailed interiors is realized by the juxtaposition of geometric pieces carefully cut from multi-hued veneers of wood. This form of decoration, known as marquetry, originated in 14th-century Italian intarsia, or inlaid designs, that often echoed the innovations of early Renaissance painting, such as the rendering of perspective. Here, perspective is used to achieve a three-dimensional sense of depth in the imaginary architectural scenes on the two-dimensional surfaces. Marquetry reemerged in Germany and the Netherlands in the early 17th century and achieved a high degree of refinement in the 18th century.

Purchase: the Kenneth A. and Helen F. Spencer Foundation Acquisition Fund