Pair of Corner Cupboards

Jean-Pierre Latz; Jean-François Oeben

about 1750–1760

White oak veneered with amaranth, sycamore, holly, fruitwood, barberry, boxwood, maple, walnut, and other unidentified woods; gilt-bronze mounts; brass hinges; brass and iron locks and keys; brèche d'Alep top, Fruitwood, Gilt bronze, Brass

J. Paul Getty Museum

Two ornate corner cabinets are shown side-by-side, each featuring intricate floral marquetry and gilt-bronze mounts. The Parisian cabinetmaker Jean-Pierre Latz is credited with producing these corner cupboards and their gilt-bronze mounts while the floral marquetry on the doors is believed to have been added by another cabinetmaker, Jean-François Oeben, at a slightly later date. Oeben specialized in this type of decoration that involves using small pieces of brilliantly colored and stained woods to create naturalistic images. It is possible that the cupboards were unfinished at the time of Latz’s death in 1754 and that Oeben subsequently acquired them and completed the work. The marquetry consists of now faded sprays of tulips, carnations, roses,