CIRCA 1620-1630

During the 17th century the most important item of furniture was the cupboard. In this period the shape of the cupboard evolved from a two door cupboard into the cabinet on stand of 1700's. The toog or poortkast, was popular during the second quarter of the 17th century, the arched panels were inspired on the shape of triumphal arches based on Roman proto-types. The arches of the present cupboard are divided by lion's masks very similar to those dividing the arch from the City of Groningen dated 1621, now on display in the garden of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. This cupboard is an early example its scrolling brackets and dentilled arches are typically early features. The scrolling brackets under the cornice with finely carved masks are comparable to a two door cupboard in the Rijksmuseum dated 1607. The dentilled arch was used in various ways in the early 1600's often on tables, but also as skirting between the feet of cupboards.
A comparable cupboard dated 1631, with virtually the same spandrel motifs flanking its arches and very similar scrolling mask brackets below the dentilled flat cornice is illustrated in L. van Aalst & A. Hofstede, Noord-Nederlandse meubelen van renaissance tot vroege Barok 1550-1670, Houten 2011, pp. 269. On page 270, of the same book a second cupboard (circa 1610-1630) is illustrated which has almost identical doors and a similar base construction with bun feet. This cupboard shows the same entrelac strapwork divided by lions masks to the arches.

'Toogkasten' can be found in 17th century Dutch paintings, like Binnenhuis met vrouwen bij een linnenkast by Pieter de Hooch (1629-1684).