scriban

Netherlands circa 1750

In European red varnish imitating Chinese lacquer.
The upper part is a cupboard with a moving pediment revealing eight compartments and six drawers. A writing flap reveals a central compartment and two drawers on either side.
The lower section features three long drawers on a plinth.
The entire piece is decorated with animated scenes.The Scribanne or Scriban is a piece of secretary furniture of Dutch origin, created around the 17th century. Its name comes from the word “schrijbank”, a Dutch word for writing desk. It is a piece of writing furniture topped by a bookcase section, often with niches or drawers.

European varnish was born of the desire to imitate the lacquers produced in the Far East, which from the 16th century fascinated Europeans with their depth, lightness and aesthetic appeal. It was developed throughout the 17th and early 20th centuries in the workshops of Parisian varnish-makers.