19th century ebonised empire style bookcase

Very stylish early 20th century Empire style console table , came out of an apartment in Paris French circa 1920’s with original marble and ormolu mounts , having an ebonised finis...

Very good quality late 19th century solid walnut 2 door bookcase French circa 1880's with 4 fully adjustable shelves ( we have made new plywood shelves lipped with walnut ) the beaut...

Quirky and unusual Empire style breakfront bookcase, the wood painted with a faux bois trompe l'oeil, and decorated with plaster moldings painted gold....

An exceptional and fine library breakfront bookcase by Antoine Krieger of Paris In the Empire taste, this wonderful piece shows careful selection of matched flame mahogany veneers, contrasted by finely chiselled mercury gilded ormolu bronze mounts. The glazed, four door upper section is surmounted by ormolu laurel wreath victory garlands, and acanthus leaves to the cornice, the lower four blind doors having central caduceus mounts, emblematic of Mercury’s staff; the outer doors showing central Apollo masks, with acanthus leaves in a cruciform pattern; the cornered motifs being rosettes with conforming acanthus leaves; the pilaster columns are capped by stylised Tuscan capitals. The four oak lined drawers have Grecian Lyre backplates to the handles, and the locks are signed by the maker. The bookcase is elevated on toupie ‘cotton reel’ feet. The very finest workmanship has gone into this piece, as evinced by the ethereal ‘gold dust’ ormolu mounts, with the crispest of ciselure, and the breathtaking quality of the mahogany veneers. This piece, originally conceived by Percier and Fontaine, adopting the decoration from the Antique, is signed by Antoine Krieger of Paris. Circa 1860 Percier and Fontaine published in 1812 the ‘bon ton’ design collection, ‘Recueil des Decorations Interieurs...