Oyster Cabinet

Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam

This cabinet from Holland (c. 1690) is veneered almost entirely with oysters https://silaskopf.com/writing-desk/ made of olivewood. The variety of tones in the oysters is part of the charm. Some of the sections are cut at angles, elongating the figures. There are lighter parts that are primarily sapwood. These surround very dark parts. This creates the effect of sort of a sunflower. Note that the friezes running horizontally above and below the doors are also done with oysters, but these are cut perpendicular to the growth of the limb.