Chest of drawers Biedermeier, circa 1820, Germany, cherry wood, three drawers with a decorative drawer, beveled sides, ebonized molding, shellac finish Dimensions: Height 88 cm, Width 95 cm Depth 50 cm This three-drawer Biedermeier chest of drawers is characterized by a strict, cube-shaped body, topped with a stepped surface featuring an ebonized edge, resting on square block feet. Following the strict design language of the Biedermeier period, the escutcheons are inlaid as ebonized diamonds. The second drawer is a decorative drawer, a clever technique that connects two drawer fronts, creating a more spacious, differently sized drawer that nevertheless maintains the strict design of the fronts and preserves the harmonious overall appearance. This decorative feature of the false drawer or door was quite common in Biedermeier furniture design, always following the idea that symmetry equals harmony equals beauty. The solid cherry wood, with its elegant reddish hue, provides a warm counterpoint to the chest's austere form. A hand-applied shellac polish further enhances this effect.