Anton Seuffert

Seuffert worked in Vienna for the Austrian furniture manufacturing company Leistler, rising to the position of foreman.

He emigrated to New Zealand from London on the ship Caduceus with his wife and two children, Josefieni, and William, and arrived in Auckland on 19 May 1859 (surname was spelt Senfick/Senfert).

Certainly the demands of the marquetry technique ensured that Sueffert became an expert in the properties of New Zealand timber and it is likely he made detailed studies of native woods to maximise the impact of his intricate designs.

His reputation as a cabinetmaker of international distinction was cemented when, in 1862, Sueffert received a lot of publicity for his work when he made a writing cabinet using New Zealand woods, 'consisting of 30,000 pieces, valued at 300 guineas, which was purchased and presented by the citizens of Auckland to her Majesty the Queen Victoria.

In 1869 Queen Victoria's second son The Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, visited New Zealand in his naval role as captain of HMS Galetea.