10 things about Herman Doomer

From the series 10 things...

In the first half of the 17th century, Herman Doomer (c. 1595-1650) was probably Amsterdam’s most important cabinetmaker. He was an innovator who introduced new materials and techniques to Dutch furniture making.

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HERMAN DOOMER

Doomer’s name and art became very popular in his own lifetime. He and his wife even had their portraits painted by Rembrandt! Those paintings now hang in museums in New York and St Petersburg. A print was made of Doomer’s portrait in the 19th century.

Portret van Herman Doomer, Charles Albert Waltner, naar Rembrandt van Rijn, ca. 1884

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DISCOVERY

Not many works by Herman Doomer have survived till today. And that makes the recent discovery of this cupboard even more important. The similarities in the shape and decoration of this cabinet and another one in the Rijksmuseum collection means we can confidently attribute it to Doomer.

Cupboard - Herman Doomer - 1632

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‘BEST’ CABINET

In the 17th century , a grand item of furniture like this cabinet was an essential element in any wealthy household. It must have made quite an impression. As well as Doomer, a small number of other cabinetmakers were experimenting with decorating furniture using expensive woods.

Cupboard, Crispijn van de Passe (II), 1642

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TECHNIQUE

Veneering is a technique that involves using thin sheets of expensive woods, such as ebony, to cover a cheaper wood. Doomer led the development of using veneer in furniture making in the Dutch Republic of the 17th century.

Cupboard, Herman Doomer, c. 1635 - c. 1645

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EBONY

Ebony is an extremely dense hardwood with a deep, dark sheen. It has been very popular since ancient times. Doomer often used ebony for his cabinets. As well as applying it as a veneer, he would use it for carved decorations.

Cupboard, Herman Doomer, c. 1635 - c. 1645

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ORIGIN

Most precious ebony wood came from Southeast Asia. The Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) imported it to the Netherlands. The trees were felled by enslaved labourers on the Indonesian island of Ternate. This island was famous for the good quality of its ebony.

Island Ternate, Johannes Kip, 1682

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HEIRLOOM

The combination of ebony and mother-of-pearl in this cabinet makes it exceptionally valuable. Doomer’s innovative use of these materials is typical of his work. The cabinet was never sold, and it remained in his widow’s collection.

Cupboard, Herman Doomer, c. 1635 - c. 1645

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MOTHER-OF-PEARL

The goldsmith Dirck van Rijswijk (1596-1679) also set mother-of-pearl elements in a black background. Visitors in this period associated this combination of materials with Japanese lacquerware with mother-of-pearl decorations. It is possible that Doomer and Van Rijswijk collaborated with each other.

Tabletop, Dirk van Rijswijck, c. 1650 - c. 1660

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INVENTOR

In 1641, Doomer and his son Mattheus applied for a patent for a method of pressing baleen (a type of whalebone) to form patterns. This material could also be stained to resemble ebony. Doomer used it in frames that looked like they were made of this expensive wood.

Mirror Frame, Herman Doomer (attributed to), Herman Doomer (rejected attribution), c. 1640 - c. 1655

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DESCENDANTS

Doomer’s other son, Lambert (1624-1700), was an artist. He was possibly a student of Rembrandt, whose work he greatly admired. Lambert later inherited the portraits of his parents painted by Rembrandt.

Head of a Dutch Landrace Goat, Lambert Doomer, 1655 - 1665

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