Tord Boontje has reinterpreted the classic wood veneered cabinet of the 18th century by creating a beautiful, sensual shape using simply figured veneers to highlight a rich landscape of curves.
This is also a cabinet with a secret - in fact fourteen of them. In the finest traditions of the 18th century, this hand-made, hand-veneered cabinet contains three additional drawers still hidden. The two main doors are released with the simple touch of an unmarked panel of veneer on the front of the cabinet. The secret central compartment is opened by a far less easily discovered mechanism which, when activated, only allows the central panel to open but does not release the eleven drawers still firmly in place with hidden locks – for this (and the locations of the further three drawers) more secrets would need to be revealed.
The complicated geometry of the doubled-curved surfaces of the wardrobe are covered on both the exterior and interior by hand-sawn cocobolo veneer. The particular Dalbergia wood selected is a silk-textured variety, richly brown in colour with rich highlights, and figured by a subtle, darker irregular weave throughout – lending itself to the particular challenges of the elaborate curves it is to cover.
With intentional contrast, the entire interior of the secret central compartment and each of its secret drawers is made from both solid and hand-sawn veneers of the deeply red, almost purple, padouk wood.
H 210 × W 110 × D 80 cm Designed for Meta
