Collector's Showcase From Napoleon III In Boulle Marquetry

Covered with a red Languedoc marble surrounded by an openwork bronze gallery, this pleasant showcase known as Collector's display presents on a rectangular body executed in ebonized pear wood veneer three partially glazed panels. Enhanced with molded baguettes with heart-shaped motifs, the side panels frame a central panel enriched in its lower part with an elegant inlaid cartel in the manner of André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732). Inlaid against a background of red tortoiseshell, palmettes, florets, foliage of acanthus leaves in engraved brass unfold their vegetal curves around it as within a large lobed cartouche. Forming a leaf, this panel reveals a dark interior of a mirror. Shelves -two adjustable glass, the third with a tain- fully match the functionality of this pretty presentation furniture: enhance or even "dramatize" through the play of reflections "the fragile and precious trinkets" hoarded at will. time. A discreet set of chiseled and gilded bronzes with pearl patterns, braided rope alternating with brettes, leafy and flowery frieze, ribbons and draperies, rococo ornaments (shell, florets and acanthus windings), flowers ... , borders, offcuts, staples, apron, keyhole of this showcase with rounded cut sides. It rests on four small arched feet with leafy hooves. With a sober and elegant silhouette, our showcase combines ingenuously the Boullien repertoire, Rocaille ornamentation tempered with typically feminine Louis XVI elements (floating draperies, ribbons, pearls). As such, it participates in the eclecticism specific to the second half of the 19th century, - a period ardently prone to "the passion for Trinkets". Intended to receive and "carefully shelter" porcelain, lacquer or small bronzes, it was in fact to furnish a living room or small living room with some Haussmanian apartments for which the Upholsterer Manuals (Jules Delville, "Vitrine, furnitures vitré", in : Dictionary of the Upholsterer, critique and history of furniture (...), Paris, 1878, p.101) as of furniture (Henri Havard, L'art dans la maison, Paris, 1885) recommended it from the years 1860 the urgent necessity. Materials: Oak frame; blackened pear veneer, tortoiseshell and brass marquetry; gilded bronze trim; red Languedoc marble top; glass and ice.