Hardwood Cabinets

The square central section is glazed, mirrored and rotates, with additional inner frames, all above a frieze with a disguised drawer, surmounted by a pagoda roof with upswept eaves, pendant bronze bells, aoi mon and serpentine dragons, the finial comprising a ho-ho with open wings; the base comprises four deeply carved cabriole legs with ho-hoshoulders and feathered claw feet resting on minogame whose tails support a circular spinach-marble shelf, with a similar marble set into the solid stretcher, decorated throughout with cloud scrolls, tendrils, inro and many auspicious symbols, the creatures’ eyes rendered in mother-of-pearl, inscribed ‘Behold fire’, Yokohama, Japan, circa 1900. Provenance: Fletcher’s Auction House, Houston, Texas. October 9-11 1981 Catalogue. Lot number 583 and envelope illustration. Footnote: This is an intriguing cabinet in many ways. The inscription “hino yojin” indicates a place for candlesticks or other light sources in a grand interior, however the inner drilled frames within the glass doors, and the fact that the whole display section rotates, would suggest something of great value and artistic merit was displayed inside. The carvings are related to the mythological Palace of the Dragon God of the Sea, (Ryugu-jo). Depending on various versions of the legend this underwater palace was made from pure crystal, each of the four sides had a different season and one day in the palace was equal to a century in our world. The most famous legend refers to Urashima Taro who was carried down to this magical place on the back of a minogame or giant turtle...

A fine French 19th-20th century kingwood and tulipwood marquetry and gilt-bronze mounted vitrine, in the manner of François Linke (1855-1946). The slender single door display cabinet with a red-velvet backing and bowed glass panels surmounted with acanthus and floral gilt-bronze mounts in the style of Léon Messagé (French, 1842-1901), the serpentine shaped front door with an ornate marquetry and ink colored panel depicting wreaths, ribbons and tied acantus leaves, all raised on four cabriolet legs ending with gilt-bronze paw-feet, Paris, circa 1900. Linke was born on 17 June 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinet maker, Neumann, which he completed in 1877. Linke’s work book or Arbeits-Buch records that he was in Vienna from July 1872 to October 1873 at the time of the International Exhibition held there in 1873. He subsequently travelled to Prague, Budapest & Weimar before finally arriving in Paris in 1875. It is documented that he obtained employment with an unknown German cabinetmaker in Paris, and stylistic similarities, photographs and geographical proximity have led some to suggest that Emmanuel Zwiener was the most likely candidate. After a period back in his home town of Pankratz, he returned once and for all to Paris in 1877. In 1878 Paris hosted the third great International Exhibition, a remarkable success for a country ravaged by war only seven years earlier. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. By 1889 another World’s Fair, as they were often referred to in America, took place in Paris. Monsieur Eiffel erected what has become the most iconic building in Paris for the exhibition and the atmosphere of wealth and confidence may well have encouraged Linke to think that he could contribute an important part to the next great exhibition. As early as 1892 this was decreed to take place at the end of the century, in an attempt to pre-empt Berlin from staging the last great show of the century. In 1892, Victor Champier (fr) one of the commissioners for the 1900 Paris Fair had appealed, “Create in the manner of the masters, do not copy what they have made”. It was an appeal against mere reproduction and Linke rose to this challenge in an unparalleled way with his unique display that was to include the Grand Bureau. Determined to outshine the competition at the Exhibition, Linke had set about creating the most ambitious pieces he could envisage, and more extravagant than had ever been displayed before. The items he exhibited marked a transition from the historicist interpretation of Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, an interpretation that was the mainstay of his nearest rivals, to something startlingly new and vital in its immediacy. [6] Together with Léon Messagé he developed a new style for the 1900 Exhibition that paid homage to the Louis XV rococo in the fluidity of its approach, but an approach fused with the lively flowing lines of the contemporary and progressive 'art nouveau'. The Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's stand: "The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed". Linke's stand would have appeared refreshingly new to contemporary onlookers, the traditional designs of the eighteenth century melting seamlessly into an exuberant naturalism. The 'Revue' described Linke's style as 'entièrement nouveaux' and noted "This opinion is universally accepted. Linke's stand is the biggest show in the history of art furniture in the year 1900". It is perhaps the most extraordinary and remarkable aspect of Linke’s personal history that he produced such expensive and luxurious furniture of exquisite quality for the 1900 exhibition without any commission or any potential buyer in mind. [9] At a time when other more established furniture businesses such as those of Beurdeley and Dasson were closing down, he made a huge investment in his stand and the furniture he supplied for it. Linke recognised that to move his business forward he needed to appeal to a more International clientele and the new emerging rich who were at this time amassing fortunes on an unprecedented scale. For this reason he gambled everything he had on his display for the 1900 exhibition. Had this not succeeded he would almost certainly have succumbed to bankruptcy. Linke’s notebook records visitors to his stand from England, Europe, the Americas, Egypt and Japan and including; the King of Sweden, three visits from the King of Belgium, Prince Radziwill, the Prince d’Arenberg, the Comte Alberic du Chastel, Miss Anna May Gould, the American heiress, distinguished furniture makers and the President of France Emile Loubet. This risky endeavour was a resounding success, and with his reputation established, La Maison Linke became the pre-eminent furniture house until outset of the Second World War. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented was never to be repeated. His showrooms expanded into prestigious premises in Paris, in the Place Vendôme as well as the Faubourg St. Antoine where his workshop had been established. He embarked on many important commissions in the years up to the outbreak of the First World War, making and designing furniture for leading international industrialists and bankers. After the 1914-1918 World War, Linke undertook the extraordinary commission to furnish the Ras al-Tin Palace in Alexandria for King Fuad of Egypt, possibly the largest single furniture commission ever conceived, eclipsing even Versailles. Linke flourished and remained active until the middle years of the 1930s and died in 1946 Léon Messagé (1842-1901) was a French sculptor, best known for his sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet...

English painted satinwood display case is painted with floral leaf and ribbon motifs.  

Antique French Louis XV small Petite Curio étagère stand with satinwood inlay and one-drawer. Item features a mirror back, bronze ormolu, satinwood inlay, nice petite size, small imp...

Pair of singed Linke bronze mounted and parquetry commodes in the Louis XV style. Parisian made cabinets are signed "F. Linke" on the bronze mounts. S...

A fine and unusual English 19th century Edwardian style painted satinwood and silver-mounted two-door side cabinet with a twin-front-doors and a single apron drawer. The doors, sides...

Stunning antique cupboard and display cabinet or bookcase by one of Holland's finest. If you are looking for a truly stylish and top quality crafted, solid wood showcase then this u...

A French carved and fruitwood marquetry inlaid Ombelliféres vitrine by Emile Gallé. The vitrine has marquetry ombelle flowers in its interior and on the panel below the bottom shelf....

A fine pair of French 19th century Louis XV style tulipwood and gilt bronze mounted two-Door Meuble D'Appui (Side-Cabinets) with a Brêche d'Alep marble top. The slender cabinets...

Monagrammed "AMH" and dated 1938 - with original sketches and plans by the designer - the inlays inspired by the "Arabian Nights".

An antique Chinese elmwood two-toned cabinet from the early 20th century, with cut bronze hardware and brushed yellow hued patina. Attracting our attention with its clean lines and t...

This Chinese side cabinet from the turn of the century (19th-20th century) features two drawers over two doors and is made of elm with burl wood panels on its front. The skirt is nic...

A superb quality French 19th-20th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted kingwood, satinwood and satine single door figural vitrine by the renown Parisian master craftsman and cabinet...

A Fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style ormolu-mounted tulipwood vitrine with marble top, in the manner of François Linke (1855-1946). The slender single door cabinet fitted w...

A very fine French Louis XV style ormolu and jasperware-mounted mahogany single door vitrine, attributed to François Linke (1855-1946). The two upper front corners surmounted with or...

A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV Style gilt bronze-mounted, Mahogany and Tulipwood Marquetry Side Cabinet/Secretaire in the style of François Linke (1855-1946). The slender s...

French Modernist sideboard in exquisite palissander showing fine detailed craftsmanship. The wood grain runs horizontal while the cabinet bo...

Early 20th century vanity cabinet Art Nouveau in hand carved solid cherrywood with bevelled mirror and marble top. Handles in burnished brass All solid wood, restored and polished to...

Early 20th century Italian Art Nouveau nightstand in cherrywood and mahogany inlaid, restored and polished to wax Measures cm: H 81+34, W 40, D 32.

Swedish Art Deco intarsia buffet cabinet of book-matched golden elm in a dark flame birch case. Floral motif inlay, Swedish "Intarsia". Intricate det...

A lovely Chinese cabinet in elm with four doors whose panels show a carved scene of vegetation representing each of the four seasons in relief. ...

Small French bookcase from the early 20th century. Double-body inlaid furniture in rosewood, mahogany, maple, walnut and fruitwood. Sideboard with four doors, two of which are inlaid...

A very fine French Belle Époque 19th century tulipwood and gilt bronze-mounted Vernis Martin decorated Vitrine by Louis Majorelle (French, 1859-1926). The single door case with a hand-painted board depicting a garden courting scene surmounted with ormolu wreaths and a banded frame. The top with a pierced gilt bronze gallery above an ormolu royal tassel trim flanked by a pair of female masks above crossed torches and flames, cross flutes, a tambourine, a pan flute, ribbons and a tassel. Raised of four cabriolet legs with corner ormolu wreaths and leaves ending with hooves, Paris, circa 1990. The back bears the original Majorelle label that reads: "Louis Majorelle, Fabrique a Nancy, 3 Rue Girardel. Depot. 56 Rue de Paradis, Paris." Louis-Jean-Sylvestre Majorelle, usually known simply as Louis Majorelle, (26 September 1859 – 15 January 1926) was a French decorator and furniture designer who manufactured his own designs, in the French tradition of the ébéniste. He was one of the outstanding designers of furniture in the Art Nouveau style, and after 1901 formally served as one of the vice-presidents of the École de Nancy. The Majorelle firm's factory was designed by famous École de Nancy architect Lucien Weissenburger (1860 – 1929) and located at 6, rue du Vieil-Aître in the western part of Nancy. In the 1880s Majorelle turned out pastiches of Louis XV furniture styles...

A large antique two-toned elm and burl wood Chinese cabinet from the early 20th century, with double doors and square lock. Born in China durin...

Beautiful antique, a cabinet with mirror made of solid cherrywood from the period of Art Nouveau. The mirror is facetted. Original fittings and locks made of brass. In very good rest...

A deep red sloping-stile cabinet from Zhejiang province, China. Both legs are adorned with a single "incense stick" beading in the middle. The slim horizontal panel below the doors m...

Rare Geometric Art Deco credenza with a dark stained Macassar veneer and two combed wood siding doors opening to a storage space. On the interior you will find bright maple wood lini...

Monumental antique hand carved elmwood cabinet. Sideboard, 20th century. This listing it´s only for the low cabinet, without the up vitrine.

A large Javanese teak cabinet from the early 20th century, with four drawers, and four sets of double doors. Born on the island of Java in the earl...

A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style Kingwood and ormolu-mounted single-door Vitrine, the demilune shaped cabinet with and arched bonnet, molded trim above a bombé glazed d...

This incredibly large and elegant box/chest was made for Tiffany and Company to hold a large sterling silver service.The red chamois lined interior features removable inserts for eac...

Description: a five doors 1930s monumental Italian Art Deco credenza Sideboard Buffet in burl elmwood by Atelier di Varedo Period: 1930 Sty...

Stunning, large french Art Deco Sideboard or Buffet of excellent and heavy quality from Paris around 1925. Amazing big concave fluted or cannelured doors, which can be folded out wid...

A beautifully handcrafted small side cabinet table of tulip wood and mahogany with a tambour sliding middle door, lower cabinet and top single drawe...

Early 20th century, Art Nouveau period, small sideboard or nightstand from Florence, gold leaf widely engraved with characteristic decorations and Florentine red lacquer. Measures i...

This French Art Nouveau "Grenouilles" carved fruitwood cabinet by Émile Gallé features detailed and masterful marquetry depicting dragonflies and mushrooms in a lush, leafy landscape...

Early 20th century robust cubist chest of drawers with a distinctive shapes, it was made in former Bohemia, more precisely in the territory of then Austri...

E. Goodall of Manchester, a fruit wood, inlaid, and leaded glass display cabinet with an array of Glasgow Rose and floral fruitwood inlays. ...

A fine French Art Deco three doors amaranth cabinet by Maurice Dufrene. Each door decorated with a floral marquetry oval panel. Interior is bird's-eye maple veneered.

A grand Nouveau cabinet with a carved floral motif, featuring five doors, two drawers and gilt bronze handles.

A fine quality pair of French Louis XVI style late 19th century kingwood marquetry and parquetry inlaid side cabinets, with floral decoration to the doors, marble tops and ormolu mou...

A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style mahogany, kingwood and stainwood ormolu-mounted marquetry two-door Meuble D'Appui attributed to either Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener or Zwien...

Outstanding pair of Art Deco cabinets or armoires in the manner of Sue et Mare. These examples of fine cabinet making exhibit mortise and tenon construction throughout utilizing sati...

This finely made pair of Encoignures or Corner cabinets are fully labeled with the maker's mark of Bedel & Cie, La Garde Meuble Public, 18 Rue St Au...

Macassar ebony, ebonized sculpted wood, and with marquetry in exotic hardwoods and mother-of-pearl. This cabinet was designed by Dufrene for La Maitrise, the design studio of the fam...

Josef Frank Art Deco cherrywood cabinet or Bergemöbel for Haus Und Garten, Vienna, circa 1925 Josef Frank is one of the most popular Austrian represen...

William James Neatby Attri. An English Art Nouveau music cabinet, with parquetry panels depicting Art Nouveau women and men playing musical instrumen...

French Art Deco mini makeup cabinet/table in macassar ebony with elaborately inlaid lemon wood and small drawers.

A very good quality French kingwood marquetry inlaid, ormolu-mounted side cabinet, having an inset clock, leather drawers beneath and two inlaid doors ...

Vienna secession, circa 1905. Only two of this cabinets where made for the grand duke of Hesse. by Josef Maria Olbrich (1867-1908), Austrian archit...

An Art Deco cabinet by Betty Joel. Upper cabinet section opens to reveal a hanging rail with six shelves to the side and a tie rack to inside of door. Lower single drawer. Satin birc...

Early Twentieth Century Elm Burlwood Japanese cabinet. Constructed entirely of solid elm burlwood. Iron forged handles, blacksmith made. Very fine detailing and is incredibly we...

A spectacular original Art Deco birds eye maple and walnut wardrobe. This was made in England, it dates from the 1920-30’s. This is one of the most...

20th century Art Deco cabinet. Completely restored to the high gloss. Material: Makassar Source: France Period: 1920-1929.

A stunning pair of Art Deco bedside cabinets in birds eye maple and walnut. They were made in England, they date from the 1920-30’s. They are beautifully made and are of superb qual...

A 1920s Venetian Rococo style polychrome hand painted cabinet À Abattant. Polychrome handpianted nature and birds scenes. Measures 16" in width, 12' in depth and stands 54" tall.

Phenomenal Art Deco commode or buffet from the period around 1925 in France. Amazing bookmatched burr walnut on the front was set in a very impressive manner and gives this fantastic...

Rare design Art Deco display cabinet from the early 20th century in Austria. This architectural cabinet was built circa 1920 and shows the transition from Art Nouveau to the early Ar...