Herman Doomer
Biography1595 - 1650
About the artist
The skilled cabinetmaker and ivory carver Herman Doomer is born in Anrath in Germany. In 1613 he settled in Amsterdam and lived there until his death in 1650. He specialized in ebony and made richly decorated cabinets and picture frames. He was very inventive in his use of material, for example baleen or whalebone, which was pressed in a metal mould. He also used different types of tropical wood, which he decorated with images or fine marquetry of mother-of-pearl and ivory.
As a framer he probably supplied frames to Rembrandt van Rijn. The fact that Doomer could afford portraits of himself and his wife Baertje Martens by Rembrandt in 1640 is an indication of his success (Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York).
As a framer he probably supplied frames to Rembrandt van Rijn. The fact that Doomer could afford portraits of himself and his wife Baertje Martens by Rembrandt in 1640 is an indication of his success (Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York).
