1 of 8

Circa 1880 A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED GILT AND BLACK LACQUER COMMODE

Name: Circa 1880 A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED GILT AND BLACK LACQUER COMMODE
Brand: Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener

$84,419.96List Price

About the Item

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED GILT AND BLACK LACQUER COMMODE BY EMMANUEL ZWIENER, PARIS, CIRCA 1880 The bombé commmode with eared black porter marble top above a central scene of chinoiserie figures in a garden, twice stamped beneath the marble top 'E. ZWIENER' 34 in. (86 cm.) high; 55 in. (140 cm.) wide; 26 in. (67 cm.) deep This commode of rococo style was made by Emmanuel Zwiener in Paris in circa 1880 but is inspired by the work of Bernard II van Risenburgh, known as BVRB (mâitre circa 1735), who produced a number of commodes decorated with panels of Oriental lacquer, supplying the first example of this type to the royal family in 1737 for Queen Maria Leszczynska's use at Fontainebleau (today in the Louvre Museum , OA 11193). Other related commodes by BVRB are in the collection of the V & A Museum, the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Getty museums. Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener was an important Parisian cabinetmaker of German origin, born in Silesia around 1849 and working in Paris from 1880 to 1895. He produced very refined furniture of impeccable execution and accompanied by high quality bronzes. He employed Leon Messager, a sculptor of immense talent. At the World Fair in Paris in 1889, he received a gold medal. By 1890, Zwiener's fame was such that he was commissioned by Kaiser Wilhelm II to completely refurnish the Royal Palace in Berlin. He then left France and sold his bronzes and stock to the house of Jansen. Léon Messager continued his brilliant career with François Linke. This explains why the works of the two cabinetmakers show strong similarities. The attribution to Zwiener is justified by the presence of very similar bronzes - espagnolettes and smoking cassolette. Chinoiserie is the European interpretation and imitation of Chinese and other Sinosphere artistic traditions, especially in the decorative arts, garden design, architecture, literature, theatre, and music. The aesthetic of chinoiserie has been expressed in different ways depending on the region. It is related to the broader current of Orientalism, which studied Far East cultures from a historical, philological, anthropological, philosophical, and religious point of view. First appearing in the 17th century, this trend was popularized in the 18th century due to the rise in trade with China (during the High Qing era) and the rest of East Asia. As a style, chinoiserie is related to the Rococo style. Both styles are characterized by exuberant decoration, asymmetry, a focus on materials, and stylized nature and subject matter that focuses on leisure and pleasure. Chinoiserie focuses on subjects that were thought by Europeans to be typical of Chinese culture.There were many reasons why chinoiserie gained such popularity in Europe in the 18th century. Europeans had a fascination with Asia due to their increased, but still restricted, access to new cultures through expanded trade with East Asia, especially China. The 'China' indicated in the term 'chinoiserie' represented in European people's mind a wider region of the globe that could embrace China itself, but also Japan, Korea, South-East Asia, India or even Persia. In art, the style of "the Orient" was considered a source of inspiration; the atmosphere rich in images and the harmonic designs of the oriental style reflected the picture of an ideal world, from which to draw ideas in order to reshape one's own culture. For this reason the style of chinoiserie is to be regarded as an important result of the exchange between the West and the East. During the 19th century, and especially in its latter period, the style of chinoiserie was assimilated under the generic definition of exoticism. The Rococo style began in France in the 1730s as a reaction against the more formal and geometric Louis XIV style. It was known as the "style Rocaille", or "Rocaille style". It soon spread to other parts of Europe, particularly northern Italy, Austria, southern Germany, Central Europe and Russia. It also came to influence other arts, particularly sculpture, furniture, silverware, glassware, painting, music, theatre, and literature. Although originally a secular style primarily used for interiors of private residences, the Rococo had a spiritual aspect to it which led to its widespread use in church interiors, particularly in Central Europe, Portugal, and South America.

Creator:
Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 33.86 in (86 cm)Width: 55.12 in (140 cm)Depth: 26.38 in (67 cm)
Style:
Chinoiserie (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Marble
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1880
Condition:
Seller Location:
SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT, FR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8385240751792

Antique Mid-19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Gilt Bronze-Mounted Lacquered Commode, circa 19th Century, France

$17,500 Sale Price

30% Off

H 42 in W 46 in D 22 in

Exquisite Quality French Ormolu-Mounted Vitrine Commode Cabinet, C. 1880

By Paul Sormani

Located in Long Island City, NY

An exquisite quality French Ormolu-mounted vitrine commode cabinet, C. 1880, attributed to Paul Sormani. A very elegant vitrine / commode cabinet with exquisite jewel-quality ormo...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Onyx, Bronze, Ormolu

Exquisite Quality French Ormolu-Mounted Vitrine Commode Cabinet, C. 1880

$15,000

H 42 in W 50 in D 16 in

French Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Commode

Located in New York, NY

French ormolu-mounted marquetry commode marble top with gilt bronze mounts, signed. France, 19th century Measures: H 33 in.; W 43 in.; D 19 in. Please note this item is current...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ormolu

French Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Commode

$16,000

H 33 in W 43 in D 19 in

Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Lacquer Commode

By Henry Dasson

Located in New York, NY

This Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted lacquer commode contains a beautiful lake scene painted in chinoiserie style depicting people in a Chinese garden surrounded by a lake, small ...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Lacquer Commode

$36,000

H 35 in W 56 in D 20 in

Pair French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Commodes, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in New York, NY

Pair of French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Commodes with marble tops, after François Boucher. Decorated with richly detailed Chinoiserie scenes after designs by François Boucher, this pair of French lacquered commodes...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Pair French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie Red Lacquer Commodes, François Boucher

$95,000

H 31.5 in W 45 in D 20.5 in

A Magnificent French Ormolu-Mounted Green Painted Chinoiserie Commode

Located in Queens, NY

A Magnificent French Ormolu-Mounted Green Painted Chinoiserie Commode with Original Marble Top An exceptional French ormolu-mounted commode, richly decorated in vibrant green polych...

Category

20th Century French Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

A Magnificent French Ormolu-Mounted Green Painted Chinoiserie Commode

$75,000

H 39 in W 65 in D 20 in

Fine Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commode, circa 1880

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A fine Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted parquetry commode. French, circa 1880. This fine commode has a Breche d’Alep marble top above two shaped d...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Bronze

Fine Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commode, circa 1880

$47,934

H 33.86 in W 59.06 in D 22.84 in

Antique Ormolu Mounted Mahogany and Chinese Lacquer Commode by Maison Forest

By Maison Forest

Located in London, GB

Antique ormolu mounted mahogany and Chinese lacquer commode by Maison Forest French, Late 19th Century Height 95cm, width 166.5cm, depth 61cm Crafted in late 19th century France by...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ormolu

Antique Ormolu Mounted Mahogany and Chinese Lacquer Commode by Maison Forest

$61,629

H 37.41 in W 65.56 in D 24.02 in

Palatial Louis XV Style 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Chinoiserie Commode

By Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener

Located in Los Angeles, CA

An extraordinary fine and Palatial French Louis XV style 19th century ebonized lacquered Chinoiserie style and finely chased gilt bronze-mounted two drawer Serpentine commode with ma...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Palatial Louis XV Style 19th Century Gilt Bronze-Mounted Chinoiserie Commode

$125,000

H 34 in W 60 in D 26 in

French Louis XVI Style Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry and Parquetry Commode

Located in Long Island City, NY

A very fine French 19th century finely chased ormolu-mounted kingwood, tulipwood, and satinwood marquetry and parquetry commode with original Breche Violette marble-top. With three l...

Category