Rare 16th-17th Century Italian Armoire, Purchased at Axel Vervoordt

A very impressive and simple late 18th century linen cupboard or armoire of pleasing proportions and a good, authentic finish to the Mahogany, not too shiny or to distressed, retaining its original giltbronze mounts. This would work equally well as a bar cabinet of TV trunk...

Torso of Buddha Kingdom of Ayutthaya (1350-1767), 17th century. Carved sandstone, height (including base) 64 cm. Provenance: The Sassoon...

Former collection Altounian At the beginning of the reign of Henri II (1547-1559) the furniture’s ornamentation evolves. The few medieval motifs that were still used are eventually relinquished. Furniture becomes more sober showcasing moulded panels and perfect architecture. Cabinet-makers use ornaments such as curved fluted or plain columns, feather quills, roses or winged putti heads. High-relief carving becomes more scarce and compositions lighter. To that end cabinet-makers draw inspiration from Fontainebleau motifs filtering them and adapting them to French taste. During this period cabinet-makers turn into a kind of architects. Indeed the architectural balance of furniture is the centre of their concerns. The study of Antic formulas is then a necessity. From this care given to proportions appear refined cabinets with pure lines. This style is characteristic of the reign of Henri II and disappears soon after under the regency of Catherine de Medici (1560-1574) when an abundance of high and low-relief ornaments comes back on furnitures. This two-bodies cabinet...

Unique and rare cabinet with an open base, finished all around, so it could be freestanding in the room, the front panels intricately carved with gothic tracery work, the side and ba...