Napoleón III , French wood bronze Dresser with mirror

About the Item

Amazing and refined Louis XV poudreuse or dressing table made in Napoleon III-era France, mid-19th century. It presents extraordinary marquetry of good invoice; different woods are used for the ornaments, both polygonal and floral. This light dressing table stands on four galve legs, the two front ones with sabots. On its mixtilinear profile front there are two registers (despite appearing to be five), as well as a removable writing tray, with embossed camel leather, thus becoming a bureau or desk. All the fittings, including the handles, are in mercury-gilt bronze and then chiselled. The top presents highly delicate floral decorations, thanks to the combination of veneers of different shades (rosewood, violetwood and palisander). It is this floral envelope that rises, in two lateral flaps and a central one, exposing the magnificent dressing table. Once opened, a mirror is revealed in the middle and storage space on the sides. It is curious that in the front these spaces have been treated as if they were drawers, with handles. Light, practical and versatile furniture. More about the Louis XV Style The Louis XV Style is an artistic style, especially present in the decorative arts, which developed during the reign of Louis XV (1715-1774). Initially the denomination "Louis XV Style" referred to a characteristic type of chairs, but it soon spread to all the arts of the time. This style was the creation of cabinetmakers as a result of a major technical advance in the manufacture of wooden furniture. It is identified with the architectural style called Rococo. Like the Rococo, it has profuse decoration and detail, in contrast to the later "Louis XVI Style", with a simpler trend. Style and period Napoleon III or Second Empire The Napoleon III or Second Empire style gets its name from the fact that it was born in France at that time. Strictly, the Second Empire was proclaimed in 1852 and ended in 1870, led by Louis Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of the French, although in the artistic sense it extends a few more years (until 1880). This style had a great reception among the French bourgeoisie. The emperor himself was involved in the artistic development of the moment, although more closely linked to architecture. However, it is Empress Eugenia who is responsible for the evolution of the decorative arts. Although it is inspired by the styles of the past, beginning with Classical Antiquity, the Renaissance, even Louis XVI, much loved by Eugenia, the most representative characteristic of the style is sumptuousness and ostentation, always aspiring to show wealth and opulence. It is not a style designed specifically for the Second Empire, but a recovery of the different great French styles of the previous centuries, a kind of compilation of French decorative trends. Special reference is made to Louis XIV, Louis XV, Baroque and Rococo, and little by little Louis XVI, with an eclecticist base. In short, the decorative styles that had positioned France at the forefront of interior design and furniture design in Europe, both for quality and for originality and beauty. They are pieces with great ornamentation. Something very common was the application of elements that simulated bronze, as in this case the brass filleting. The upholstery also lived a moment of splendor, almost completely hiding the structure of the chairs and armchairs. Dark woods, or stained or lacquered in dark colors, were usually chosen, which harmonized with the rich upholstery and gold details. Closed: 76 x 78 x 43 cm Open: 114 x 125 x 43 cm.

Similar to:

Napoléon III (Artist)

Dimensions:

Height: 76 in (193.04 cm)Width: 78 in (198.12 cm)Depth: 43 in (109.22 cm)

Style:

Napoleon III (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Bronze,Fruitwood,Mirror,Hand-Crafted

Place of Origin:

France

Period:

1880-1889