Bruchsal, attributed to Johann Wolfgang Elias Weinsprach (1712 Öhringen - 1776 Bruchsal) around 1770
Walnut, plum, pear, maple, boxwood, bog oak, and ivory, partially engraved and fire-shaded;
This magnificent, very richly processed cylinder bureau shows a garden hall in the center of the cylinder with a view of a landscape. The hall shows the interior of a castle, which is depicted above the cylinder. The theme of a country castle amid nature dominates the entire front of the piece of furniture. The central scene is flanked by bouquets of flowers and vases.
The middle drawer front shows a manor house with a sawmill, while the side drawers are veneered with marquetry of everyday scenes and festive scenes that take place in front of or inside the farm buildings.
The furniture probably made for the Bruchsal castle is attributed to Johann Elias Weinsprach, who was the courtly cabinetmaker for Franz Christoph von Hutten, Prince-Bishop of Speyer.
Other opulently constructed writing cabinets from Bruchsal castle have been preserved in public collections.
A relationship to the famous Roentgen furniture for Johann Philipp von Walderdorff, Archbishop and Elector of Trier, is given.
Literature: Heinrich Kreisel and Georg Himmelheber, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, part II, Spätbarock und Rokoko, Munich 1983, pp. 205-208, figs. 574-579.
Height: 115 cm, width: 113 cm, depth: 60 cm