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Exceptional 19C French Empire Style Buffet/Vitrine by AME Fournier

About the Item

PRESENTING an OUTSTANDING, IMPORTANT and UNIQUE 19C French Empire Style Buffet/Vitrine by AME Fournier. Pieces by A.M.E. Fournier are EXTREMELY RARE and next to impossible to find, so to have discovered this piece is FANTASTIC. Best known for his rope twist chairs/stools and upholstery, 'Fournier' furniture pieces are considered amongst some of the VERY BEST late 19th Century French pieces you can find, if you are lucky enough to find one! The QUALITY of this piece throughout is SIMPLY STUNNING! It consists of 3 pieces/sections: - (1) The top section consisting of 2 vitrines/display cabinets on both ends, each with glass fronts and sides for viewing and 2 glass shelves inside. The rear panel in each, is a mirror. The section curves beautifully to a central mirrored section consisting of 9 mirrored panels with 4 ormolu rosettes separating the mirrors. All richly embellished with the finest quality ormolu mounts, with exceptional detail to each. The 2 side vitrines, also have Romanesque side pillars of columns to the front. The entire top section is made of the most GORGEOUS burl walnut with satinwood stringing as an inlay. (2) The top section then rests on a GORGEOUS Siense Marble counter with beveled edges. Thick slab and very heavy! (3) The base section or Credenza Section, has 2 side drawers to the top on either side (under the marble) and a large drawer in the middle. It has 4 doors to the base. Again, it is made of the most stunning burl walnut and richly embellished with the finest quality ormolu mounts with exceptional detail to each. The drawers have ormolu Bacchus heads and florettes. The doors open to reveal wooden shelving. The piece sits on 8 Ormolu and acanthus mounted legs. THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF FRENCH FURNITURE, BY THE EXTREMELY RARE MAKER, FOURNIER OF PARIS, AND THE ORMOLU MOUNTS ARE AMONGST THE BEST QUALITY & DETAIL, WE HAVE EVER SEEN ON A FRENCH PIECE! Marked "Fournier" on the door escutcheons/lock plates with serial number '8613'. A.M.E Fournier was established by 1850 at 109 boulevard Beaumarchais, and later at boulevard des Capucines. As well as exceptional case furniture, Fournier was famed for his upholstered work, exhibiting at many of the great exhibitions of the period, including the Exposition Universelle of 1867. His most famous creation was a wonderfully naturalistic giltwood rope twist stool, which was as highly sought after in his own period as it is today.  Provenance: From a Private Louisiana Collection. Condition: Very good original condition. The marble counter has a couple of chips on the edges and a repaired crack in the center, but not very noticeable. One very minor repair to the side base (a filled crack no more than 2 inches long) and does not in any way detract from the piece. Has been wired for illumination in both vitrines, but non-intrusive wiring. No keys.
  • Creator:
    A.M.E Fournier (Cabinetmaker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 86 in (218.44 cm)Width: 84 in (213.36 cm)Depth: 24 in (60.96 cm)
  • Style:
    Empire Revival (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1860-1880
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Very good original condition. No keys. The marble counter has a couple of chips on the edges and a repaired crack in the center but not very noticeable. One very minor repair to the side base that is not noticeable. Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Very good original condition. No keys. The marble counter has a couple of chips on the edges and a repaired crack in the center but not very noticeable. One very minor repair to the side base that is not noticeable.
  • Seller Location:
    Dallas, TX
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3978115874762
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