Napoleon III Bookcase Stamped Sormani

Magnificent Showcase in violet wood marquetry with rich gilt bronze ornamentation, very finely chiseled with Louis XV-inspired motifs. Topped with a Campan Grand Mélange marble, ...

Large Louis XVI style sideboard with central projection presenting a rich marquetry decoration, with trellis enclosing floral-inspired motifs on the front, diamond motifs on the sides. Different types of exotic precious wood are used such as sycamore, mahogany and amaranth. The Fleur de Pêcher marble top has a very artistic veining with a very rich palette of colors. Finally, the rich ornamentation of gilded bronze and very finely chiseled completes the whole, giving an elegant opulence to this unique and rare piece. Opening with three doors on the front. Work from the end of the 19th century. The bronzes are marked on the back ZJ, attesting to the prestigious origin of this piece of furniture. Some details on this subject: The "ZJ" mark has long been controversial among experts on 19th century Parisian furniture, some attributing these pieces of furniture to the Zwiener house, others claiming that they are pieces of furniture from the Jansen house, the latter having bought the Parisian workshops of the famous Zwiener brothers in 1895. We can cite for example Christopher Payne, the leading expert on the subject who writes in his book "Paris la quintessence du meuble au XIXème siècle" in the chapter on "Jansen Jean-Henri (1854-1929)" on page 396: "The initials "ZJ" affixed to the back of the bronzes have long been attributed to Jansen, cited as "Zwiener Jansen". However, we believe that these initials also refer to the furniture made in Berlin by Julius Zwierner and not necessarily to those of Jansen. To complicate things, Jansen bought the "ZJ" master models. The latter being mainly of the type and style of those originally modelled by Léon Messagé, who was an independent sculptor until the end of 1890." Along similar lines, Christopher Payne writes in the chapter on "Zwiener Emmanuel...

Circa 1860 Napoleon III cabinet bookcase, French. Outset columns flank double glazed doors enclosing velvet lined shelves - 3 levels for books, accessories, etc. Burl walnut & ebony ...

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