DOOMER, Herman

(b. ~1595 Anrath, d. 1650 Amsterdam)

Dutch cabinetmaker of German origin who worked in Amsterdam. He was one of the first Amsterdam ebonists, a new group of cabinetmakers who specialised in making pieces of furniture in ebony, and more generally of items made or veneered with hard, tropical types of wood. Since this required very special skills, the ebony workers were recognised as a distinct group within the cabinetmakers’ guild in 1626.

He was born in Anrath in Germany and moved to Amsterdam around 1613, where he soon prospered. He bought several houses in Amsterdam and assembled a significant collection of paintings. Rembrandt painted his portrait in 1640 (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York), as well as the portrait of his wife Baartgen Martens. Their son, Lambert, worked as an apprentice in Rembrandt’s studio.

Doomer not only made cabinets and mirror frames but also produced picture frames; his portrait by Rembrandt lead to speculation that he supplied Rembrandt with frames.

Cabinet table

This object is a cabinet table inlaid with rosewood and ebony on oak core. It was manufactured in Amsterdam c. 1635-1650.

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Cupboard

The cupboard is a work of supreme craftsmanship. The oak structure is entirely veneered with ebony and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay in the shape of flowers and butterflies. The working of the ebony is skilful, particularly the sculpted work.

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Cupboard (interior)

On opening this heavy black cupboard one is confronted with a surprisingly colourful interior comprising not only ebony but other kinds of wood as well.

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