Vitrinekast bestaande uit een onder- en een bovenkast met opengewerkte panelen in florale motieven c. 1905

Theo Nieuwenhuis made this display cabinet with openwork floral panels, probably sometime in the early 20th century. Look at how he used a relatively limited range of warm wood tones to create something that's both functional and visually intriguing. It’s like he’s thinking about how the form of the thing and the making of the thing, the process, can become one. Notice how the light catches the carved details on the upper section. Each of those little floral motifs is a testament to the artist’s skill and patience. There's a rhythm to the repetition, but also a kind of handmade variation, which makes it feel alive. And it makes me think of the Vienna Secessionists, like Klimt, who found ways to turn craft into fine art. Ultimately, it's a piece that celebrates the beauty of craftsmanship and the endless possibilities of art to blur the line between the practical and the poetic.