19th Century French Vernis Martin Mahogany Cabinet Vitrine

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19th Century French Vernis Martin Mahogany Cabinet Vitrine

About the Item

This is a superb antique French ormolu-mounted Vernis Martin serpentine vitrine in the Louis XV manner, circa 1880 in date. It has exquisite hand-painted decoration, is further decorated with exquisite ormolu mounts. The central panel has a beautiful painting depicting a courting couple and the two side panels have paintings of country scenes. The cabinet has been crafted from solid mahogany and the ormolu mounts are of gilded bronze. The interior has been relined in a sumptuous Royal Purplke velvet. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully restored and relined in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 174 x width 72 x depth 33 Dimensions in inches: Height 5 feet, 8 inches x width 2 feet, 4 inches x depth 1 foot, 1 inch Vernis Martin is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans, snuffboxes and clocks. The process of adding bronze or gold powder to green varnish was perfected by the French brothers Guillaume and Etienne-Simon Martin, hence its name “Vernis Martin”, as Vernis is French for varnish. It is said to have been made by heating oil, copal and amber and then adding Venetian turpentine and the Martin Brothers perfected the process with inclusions in the varnish, sprinkling spangles of silver plated copper wire into the wet varnish ground. Highly praised by Voltaire, it was developed to imitate East Asian lacquerware which was being imported into France during the Louis XV period. Vernis Martin was made in several colors, green, black and a golden red being the most characteristic. Ormolu (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze. The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-colored veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of color. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil). Please feel free to email or call us to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse. Shipping: We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge. A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase. Delivery and return policy: We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply. In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item. The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition. Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses. Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.

Dimensions:
Height: 68.51 in (174 cm)Width: 28.35 in (72 cm)Depth: 13 in (33 cm)
Style:
Louis XV (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Mahogany,Ormolu
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1880-1889
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1880
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 079511stDibs: LU95068086893