The golden age of furniture art in the Low Countries was the 17th century. Antwerp, which was the capital of Spanish-controlled Catholic Flanders, developed into a center of international trade. Merchandise from the East - finished goods and raw materials alike - exerted an impact on furniture art. Materials favored for Flemish display furniture - ebony, tortoiseshell and ivory - all came from the East.

The most magnificent example of Flemish display furniture was the cabinet on a stand, which was used to store important documents, money, jewelry, and special collections. The surfaces of these pieces, which featured hidden drawers and a central niche recalling a miniature theatre stage, were usually veneered with exotic materials. Some cabinets on a stand were made for export or as presents.

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