Chest of drawers on stand

After fleeing Nazi Germany and arriving in Melbourne in 1939, the cabinet-maker Schulim Krimper became known in the 1950s and 1960s as Australia’s premier supplier of custom-made furniture.

Influenced by the work of the Deutsche Werkstätten, or German craft workshops, and, and interested in the Biedermeier style of the early nineteenth century, Krimper combined traditional cabinet-making techniques with a modern approach, in which wood and natural finishes were celebrated. His Chest of drawers on stand is a fine and early example of his philosophies in furniture design. The visual impact of the work, with its simple and restrained form, relies on the contrast of two Australian timbers, cedar and Queensland silver ash, in alternating bands. The ornamentation of the piece derives from the construction, and it is this sculptural approach to his work that defined Krimper as an artist.

This Chest of drawers marries restraint and high-quality craftsmanship, and, with its impeccable finish, the piece showcases Krimper’s skill and experience as a craftsman, along with his commitment to his materials.

Gloria Strzelecki, Associate Curator of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art