Rare Matched Pair of Louis XVI Style Wall Vitrines by Zwiener, circa 1890

An important pair of Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted vitrines with wedgwood Jasperware plaques, by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. French, circa 1880. Stamped 'NZ', 'NZ.309' and 'ZJ' to the reverse of the bronze mounts. Signed to the reverse of the lockplate 'Mon THEAU THIEFFINE Succ./SERRURIER PARIS'. This rare pair of vitrines, each have a shaped Carrera marble top above a frieze centred by a round classical Jasperware plaque flanked by gilt-bronze putti figures and scrolling acanthus running pattern. Below is a gilt-bronze framed bevelled glass door above a panel centred by a finely modelled Jasperware plaque of a putto representing the seasons. The door is flanked to either side by gilt-bronze monnaie pattern and headed by a pair of exceptionally fine female canephor figures. The shaped sides have corresponding bevelled glass panels and the vitrine is raised on tapering fluted legs. The distinctive canephor figures, finely cast as female caryatids with ringlets in their hair and supporting baskets of fruit upon their heads, is a distinctive and celebrated model unique to Zwiener. Many of Zwieners bronzes are executed in the Louis XV style, with flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves and an emphasis on asymmetry, typical of the work of his bronze sculptor Léon Messagé. The mounts employed on this rare pair of vitrines however sees Zwiener creating his own up-to-date reinterpretation of the Louis XVI style, drawing inspiration from established Louis XVI models such as those designed by Weisweiler for Marie-Antoinette's Dressing table. [See Mestdagh, p.305]. A second distinctive feature of the vitrines is the finely modelled Wedgwood Jasperware plaques incorporated in the frieze of each vitrine and beneath the doors. Wedgwood exhibited at nearly all of the Universal Exhibitions held in 19th century France, displaying amongst other pieces, plaques specifically intended to be mounted on to furniture. The first vitrine displays to the frieze a finely modelled plaque in the classical style, depicting a group of putti at play, one being pushed on a swing, while another plays a trumpet and a small attentive dog watches from below. Beneath the glass panelled door a larger Jasperware plaque is incorporated depicting a putto figure with a garland of flowers, emblematic of spring. The second vitrine has a classical plaque...

An impressive pair of Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany vitrines by François Linke. French, circa 1890. Signed to the reverse of the bronze mounts ‘LINKE’. Each ...

A rare and important pair of Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted vitrines de Milieu by Paul Sormani. Signed to the locks ‘P. SORMANI, PARIS, 10 ru...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany vitrine, by Alfred Louis Beurdeley. French, circa 1880. Stamped to the carcass ‘A. Beurdeley à Paris’. This fine mahogany...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted five drawer, marble top chiffonier by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. French, circa 1880. Stamped to th...

An important and extremely rare Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted bombe vitrine, firmly attributed to Maison Krieger. The back of the mounts on the four cornice corners and the floral swags cast with the monogram LM possibly for Leon Message; an old, possibly original label on the back with ink inscription: '1181 (?), galbee vitrine, Lxv, bois Violette..101'. This exceptional vitrine has a spreading pediment centred by a finely cast gilt bronze stylized acanthus, ‘C’-scroll and foliate cresting, above a glazed bombé central door and concave sides. The silk lined interior is fitted with adjustable shelves and the angles headed by superb gilt bronze figural espagnolettes with uplifted heads, plumes and ruffs. The lower galbée shaped section of the vitrine is mounted with foliate garlands and raised on cabriole legs with acanthus clasps and feet. An almost identical vitrine of the same proportions, construction and design, stamped to the lockplate ‘Mon Krieger...

Rare pair of Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted curved shape vitrines attributed to J.E Zwiener. Glazed on all sides, they open with two doors framed by gilded and chiseled Rocaille style foliated bronze mounts. Resting on four cabriole legs ending with lion’s paws, the whole is covered by a « brèche de Benou » marble top. This model was probably designed by L. Messagé. Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener was born in Germany in 1849. In 1880 he sets up his extensive workshops in rue de la Roquette in Paris where he creates many original pieces of furniture. He imitated practically every style, ranging from ‘’Boulle’’ to Louis XVI and including extraordinary personal interpretations of the Louis XV ‘’exuberant’’ style. He participated in the 1889 Universal Exhibition, held in Paris, and was awarded the gold medal for his remarkable copy of that most famous piece of furniture, Louis XV’s desk. The catalogue of the exhibition included a wonderful elegy qualifying the work as perfect : « No criticism what-so-ever could be made ». As that other famous cabinet-maker François Linke, Zwiener had most of his bronzes modelled by Léon Messagé whose work was considered as being of the best possible quality. Léon Messagé is a renowned designer and sculptor who integrated in his ornaments related to the Rocaille asymmetry, new lines and shapes announcing the “Art Nouveau” style. But even though, Messagé found inspiration with these 18th century artists, such as Nicolas Pineau or J. A. Meissonier, he didn’t simply copy their work and showed great originality, even extravagance, with some designs contained in "Cahier des dessins et croquis style Louis XV". He realized numerous sketches on grey paper before the execution of a reduced or life sized model of his ornaments, made of wax or terra-cotta. From 1885, Léon Messagé started working with important Parisian cabinet...

Antique Italian Painted Louis XVI Wall Vitrine ~ Display Case is a wonderful neoclassical design that includes beveled sides, three doors and sev...

Elegant vitrine in veneered wood and gilded bronze. Opening with two curved doors with foliated frame in gilded and chiseled bronze, it is composed in the upper part of bevelled glas...

Handsome pair of 19th century Italian wall vitrines. Each petite cabinet features beautiful marquetry, bronze ormolu, glass door and single shelf.

A very imposing late 19th Century French Louis XVI style bombe fronted glass Vitrine, having gilded ormolu scrolling foliate mounts, hand painted panels to the sides and door depicti...

Pair of Italian painted and gilt hanging glass wall vitrines with fitted interior upholstered shelving, floral gilt motif, and the original wood bac...