English: Desk, inlaid marquetry patterned desk made with New Zealand native timbers, "was formerly in the collection of Murdoch (a banker), but may be the Lloyd piece" F150 bonheur du jour, Anton Seuffert Anton Seuffert (born 1815, Bohemia - died 1887, Auckland, New Zealand) carvings by Anton Teutenberg (born 1840, Huston, Westphalia – died Auckland, 1933) ‘Especially commended for taste and workmanship’ is how cabinetmaker Anton Seuffert’s work was praised at the Sydney International Exhibition of 1879. Anton Seuffert (born 1815, Bohemia - died 1887, Auckland, New Zealand) worked in Auckland after his arrival in New Zealand around 1861. His skill, sense of design and proportion made his work highly sought after for important commissions. His work is reflected in the European traditions he maintained in this elegantly styled bonheur du jour. His traditional forms became the base for his elaborate marquetry and inlays of New Zealand native timbers. His use local flora and fauna as patterns, as well as intricate landscape depictions, becomes the celebrated feature of Seuffert's work. While the lavish use of local timbers is immediately evident, perhaps not so apparent is the fact that nearly all the fern designs are botanically correct and recognizable – all are in such exquisite detail that it has been possible to identify each of the plants. The fine decorative carvings on the superstructure are by Anton Teutenberg (born 1840, Huston, Westphalia – died Auckland, 1933), a Prussian immigrant to New Zealand. He was responsible for the carvings on many of the presentation pieces by Anton Seuffert. bonheur du jour, Anton Seuffert (born 1815, Bohemia - died 1887, Auckland, New Zealand), carvings by Anton Teutenberg (born 1840, Huston, Westphalia – died Auckland, 1933), Auckland, New Zealand, about 1865 Anton Seuffert came from a working class family in Bohemia Anton quickly rose to the rank of foreman in the leading Viennese firm of Leistler and Sons, which made commissioned furniture for European royalty and aristocracy. Anton was responsible for the setting up of their massive four-room furniture display at The Great Exhibition of 1851 in London. It appears that Anton remained in London after The Great Exhibition of 1851 and in 1856 married an Austrian woman, Ann Blitz. When and why Anton and his wife emigrated to New Zealand is not known, but in 1861 they and their then three children became naturalised citizens in Auckland. They eventually had six children. For the next thirty years, Anton produced superlative articles of furniture, most of those on record being decorated with some of the finest inlaid work known in New Zealand. Unusually for a cabinet maker, Anton labelled his work. In 1882 his firm changed its name from ‘A. Seuffert, cabinet maker’ to A. Seuffert and Sons’. Almost certainly William helped his father for many years before this date. Indeed it is said that in pieces attributed to Anton the floral work at least, is probably by William. However there is no recognition of this in the labelling of the pieces. In 1890 the firm became ‘William Seuffert, Cabinet maker’. William Seuffert (born March 1859, London England - d July 1943, Auckland, New Zealand) was the third son of Anton Seuffert who emigrated to New Zealand (most likely after a few years England) in about 1880. William continued with the sort of work for which his father was renowned. Although it is claimed that William’s work surpassed that of his father, he is generally less well known that Anton, probably because there are far fewer pieces attributed to him. It may be that they are in private hands and therefore unknown, at least for the present. There is evidence to suggest that William may have well had difficulty in making a living from the sort of intricate works in which he excelled and supplemented his income as a carter and as an artist at various times. He was certainly a superb artist and it is said that he turned down the opportunity to become a professional cartoonist for a daily newspaper. He never married and died in July 1943. He was the only on of his father’s sons to follow in his father’s trade as a cabinet maker. Anton Seuffert was a highly skilled, superior craftsman. His achievement was in the creation of exquisite inlaid furniture using New Zealand native timbers and motifs. Seuffert was fascinated by the possibilities marquetry and inlay designs offered. By reinterpreting European precedents, he produced a number of superb pieces using New Zealand native timbers as the base material. Seuffert’s furniture only had a limited market, yet his elaborately designed, commissioned pieces of presentation furniture are exemplary as a superlative extension of motif and the search for, an albeit hybridised, New Zealand style. Presentation desk to Queen Victoria, 1861-2, the Royal collection, St James Palace, London,