Beschreibung:

A HIGHLY IMPORTANT FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, TULIPWOOD, MAHOGANY, MARQUETRY, PARQUETRY AND VERNIS MARTIN-DECORATED SERRE-BIJOUX
BY JOSEPH-EMMANUEL ZWIENER, THE MOUNTS DESIGNED BY LÉON MESSAGÉ, PARIS, 1889
A HIGHLY IMPORTANT FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, TULIPWOOD, MAHOGANY, MARQUETRY, PARQUETRY AND VERNIS MARTIN-DECORATED SERRE-BIJOUX BY JOSEPH-EMMANUEL ZWIENER, THE MOUNTS DESIGNED BY LÉON MESSAGÉ, PARIS, 1889 Of exaggerated bombé form, surmounted by a cloudborne, Classically-draped recumbent maiden emblematic of Abundance, with crowns, fruit-filled cornucopiae and scattered gold coins, above a spreading top inlaid with reserves of floral marquetry, over a door centred by a cartouche panel headed by a shell and river-god mask and flanked by winged cherub heads, framing a vernis Martin panel painted with Les Baigneuses , after Fragonard, with an abundance of flowers below, the reverse of the door inlaid with a large spray of flowers, the interior with a shaped bombé glazed door (not illustrated), the ormolu frame headed by a bird perched on a branch, opening to a padded silk-lined recess fitted with various purple velvet-covered jewellery stands, flanked to each side below by three spring-loaded concealed drawers mounted sans traverse on one set with a bow, quiver and arrows, and on the other with a flambeau, thyrsi and laurel garland, above a recess inlaid with floral marquetry and a spring-loaded velvet-lined surface concealing four further drawers, the shaped panelled sides finely inlaid with delicate flowers climbing a parquetry trellis, the angles mounted with scrolled acanthus chutes, cast with flowers to the back and to the front supporting on one side a putto forging a crown, with oak branches behind, and to the other with a young girl drawing the Orders of Architecture, with laurel branches behind, the stand centred to the front with a large recessed shell cast with a fish amidst bulrushes, coral and gushing water, flanked by floral marquetry reserves, the shaped underside inlaid with flowers climbing a fanned trellis, above drapery-festooned cabriole legs joined by a wavy 'X'-shaped stretcher supporting a drapery-bound Rococo style ewer, thyrsi, rose stems and laurel branches, on rocaille-cast feet; signed Zwiener/Paris in the wood to the lower right corner of the door, the back stencilled GK/770/CAPETOWN and with grey paint inventory number S.6882 94 in. (239 cm.) high; 47¾ in. (121.3 cm.) wide; 21 in. (53.2 cm.) deep