Gilt Vitrines

A remarkable pair of display cabinets By Henri Picard of Paris Constructed in mahogany, with extensive and superlative ormolu decoration. The cabinets of rectangular form, rising...

These wonderful vitrines (display cabinets) were created in France in the early 20th century. They are designed in an elegant Art Nouveau style which was in vogue in this period. ...

An important pair of Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted vitrines with wedgwood Jasperware plaques, by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. French, circa 1880. Stamped 'NZ', 'NZ.309' and 'ZJ' to the reverse of the bronze mounts. Signed to the reverse of the lockplate 'Mon THEAU THIEFFINE Succ./SERRURIER PARIS'. This rare pair of vitrines, each have a shaped Carrera marble top above a frieze centred by a round classical Jasperware plaque flanked by gilt-bronze putti figures and scrolling acanthus running pattern. Below is a gilt-bronze framed bevelled glass door above a panel centred by a finely modelled Jasperware plaque of a putto representing the seasons. The door is flanked to either side by gilt-bronze monnaie pattern and headed by a pair of exceptionally fine female canephor figures. The shaped sides have corresponding bevelled glass panels and the vitrine is raised on tapering fluted legs. The distinctive canephor figures, finely cast as female caryatids with ringlets in their hair and supporting baskets of fruit upon their heads, is a distinctive and celebrated model unique to Zwiener. Many of Zwieners bronzes are executed in the Louis XV style, with flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves and an emphasis on asymmetry, typical of the work of his bronze sculptor Léon Messagé. The mounts employed on this rare pair of vitrines however sees Zwiener creating his own up-to-date reinterpretation of the Louis XVI style, drawing inspiration from established Louis XVI models such as those designed by Weisweiler for Marie-Antoinette's Dressing table. [See Mestdagh, p.305]. A second distinctive feature of the vitrines is the finely modelled Wedgwood Jasperware plaques incorporated in the frieze of each vitrine and beneath the doors. Wedgwood exhibited at nearly all of the Universal Exhibitions held in 19th century France, displaying amongst other pieces, plaques specifically intended to be mounted on to furniture. The first vitrine displays to the frieze a finely modelled plaque in the classical style, depicting a group of putti at play, one being pushed on a swing, while another plays a trumpet and a small attentive dog watches from below. Beneath the glass panelled door a larger Jasperware plaque is incorporated depicting a putto figure with a garland of flowers, emblematic of spring. The second vitrine has a classical plaque...

A very imposing French 19th Century Walnut, ormolu mounted vitrine / display cabinet. Having an arched egg and dart molded glazed door, opening to reveal a glass shelf and mirror bac...

A fine French 19th-20th century kingwood and tulipwood marquetry and gilt-bronze mounted vitrine, in the manner of François Linke (1855-1946). The slender single door display cabinet with a red-velvet backing and bowed glass panels surmounted with acanthus and floral gilt-bronze mounts in the style of Léon Messagé (French, 1842-1901), the serpentine shaped front door with an ornate marquetry and ink colored panel depicting wreaths, ribbons and tied acantus leaves, all raised on four cabriolet legs ending with gilt-bronze paw-feet, Paris, circa 1900. Linke was born on 17 June 1855 in the small village of Pankraz, in what is now the Czech Republic. Records show that Linke served an apprenticeship with the master cabinet maker, Neumann, which he completed in 1877. Linke’s work book or Arbeits-Buch records that he was in Vienna from July 1872 to October 1873 at the time of the International Exhibition held there in 1873. He subsequently travelled to Prague, Budapest & Weimar before finally arriving in Paris in 1875. It is documented that he obtained employment with an unknown German cabinetmaker in Paris, and stylistic similarities, photographs and geographical proximity have led some to suggest that Emmanuel Zwiener was the most likely candidate. After a period back in his home town of Pankratz, he returned once and for all to Paris in 1877. In 1878 Paris hosted the third great International Exhibition, a remarkable success for a country ravaged by war only seven years earlier. It is known that the fledgling Linke workshops were active in the Faubourg St. Antoine as early as 1881, during this time he supplied furniture for other more established makers such as Jansen and Krieger. By 1889 another World’s Fair, as they were often referred to in America, took place in Paris. Monsieur Eiffel erected what has become the most iconic building in Paris for the exhibition and the atmosphere of wealth and confidence may well have encouraged Linke to think that he could contribute an important part to the next great exhibition. As early as 1892 this was decreed to take place at the end of the century, in an attempt to pre-empt Berlin from staging the last great show of the century. In 1892, Victor Champier (fr) one of the commissioners for the 1900 Paris Fair had appealed, “Create in the manner of the masters, do not copy what they have made”. It was an appeal against mere reproduction and Linke rose to this challenge in an unparalleled way with his unique display that was to include the Grand Bureau. Determined to outshine the competition at the Exhibition, Linke had set about creating the most ambitious pieces he could envisage, and more extravagant than had ever been displayed before. The items he exhibited marked a transition from the historicist interpretation of Louis XV and Louis XVI styles, an interpretation that was the mainstay of his nearest rivals, to something startlingly new and vital in its immediacy. [6] Together with Léon Messagé he developed a new style for the 1900 Exhibition that paid homage to the Louis XV rococo in the fluidity of its approach, but an approach fused with the lively flowing lines of the contemporary and progressive 'art nouveau'. The Art Journal reported in 1900 on Linke's stand: "The work of M. Linke ... was an example of what can be done by seeking inspiration amongst the classic examples of Louis XV and XVI without in any great sense copying these great works. M. Linke's work was original in the true sense of the word, and as such commended itself to the intelligent seeker after the really artistic things of the Exhibition. Wonderful talent was employed in producing the magnificent pieces of furniture displayed". Linke's stand would have appeared refreshingly new to contemporary onlookers, the traditional designs of the eighteenth century melting seamlessly into an exuberant naturalism. The 'Revue' described Linke's style as 'entièrement nouveaux' and noted "This opinion is universally accepted. Linke's stand is the biggest show in the history of art furniture in the year 1900". It is perhaps the most extraordinary and remarkable aspect of Linke’s personal history that he produced such expensive and luxurious furniture of exquisite quality for the 1900 exhibition without any commission or any potential buyer in mind. [9] At a time when other more established furniture businesses such as those of Beurdeley and Dasson were closing down, he made a huge investment in his stand and the furniture he supplied for it. Linke recognised that to move his business forward he needed to appeal to a more International clientele and the new emerging rich who were at this time amassing fortunes on an unprecedented scale. For this reason he gambled everything he had on his display for the 1900 exhibition. Had this not succeeded he would almost certainly have succumbed to bankruptcy. Linke’s notebook records visitors to his stand from England, Europe, the Americas, Egypt and Japan and including; the King of Sweden, three visits from the King of Belgium, Prince Radziwill, the Prince d’Arenberg, the Comte Alberic du Chastel, Miss Anna May Gould, the American heiress, distinguished furniture makers and the President of France Emile Loubet. This risky endeavour was a resounding success, and with his reputation established, La Maison Linke became the pre-eminent furniture house until outset of the Second World War. The technical brilliance of his work and the artistic change that it represented was never to be repeated. His showrooms expanded into prestigious premises in Paris, in the Place Vendôme as well as the Faubourg St. Antoine where his workshop had been established. He embarked on many important commissions in the years up to the outbreak of the First World War, making and designing furniture for leading international industrialists and bankers. After the 1914-1918 World War, Linke undertook the extraordinary commission to furnish the Ras al-Tin Palace in Alexandria for King Fuad of Egypt, possibly the largest single furniture commission ever conceived, eclipsing even Versailles. Linke flourished and remained active until the middle years of the 1930s and died in 1946 Léon Messagé (1842-1901) was a French sculptor, best known for his sculptural collaboration with François Linke for the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle. Messagé was also responsible for much of the design and creative work for Roux et Brunet...

Very fine French cabinet by Paul Sormani. Louis XVI design with very fine gilt bronze mounts. Signed P Sormani. Illuminated.

Solid beech wood with plastically carved paws feet. Multiple scalloped frame, above cambered, vierschübiges body framed by solid corner glazing. Three-sided glazed, one-door showcase...

An elegant Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany vitrine attributed to Maison Krieger. The bombé front door opening to two glass shelves, flanked by convex glazed sides and r...

A very fine French Belle Époque 19th century tulipwood and gilt bronze-mounted Vernis Martin decorated Vitrine by Louis Majorelle (French, 1859-1926). The single door case with a hand-painted board depicting a garden courting scene surmounted with ormolu wreaths and a banded frame. The top with a pierced gilt bronze gallery above an ormolu royal tassel trim flanked by a pair of female masks above crossed torches and flames, cross flutes, a tambourine, a pan flute, ribbons and a tassel. Raised of four cabriolet legs with corner ormolu wreaths and leaves ending with hooves, Paris, circa 1990. The back bears the original Majorelle label that reads: "Louis Majorelle, Fabrique a Nancy, 3 Rue Girardel. Depot. 56 Rue de Paradis, Paris." Louis-Jean-Sylvestre Majorelle, usually known simply as Louis Majorelle, (26 September 1859 – 15 January 1926) was a French decorator and furniture designer who manufactured his own designs, in the French tradition of the ébéniste. He was one of the outstanding designers of furniture in the Art Nouveau style, and after 1901 formally served as one of the vice-presidents of the École de Nancy. The Majorelle firm's factory was designed by famous École de Nancy architect Lucien Weissenburger (1860 – 1929) and located at 6, rue du Vieil-Aître in the western part of Nancy. In the 1880s Majorelle turned out pastiches of Louis XV furniture styles...

A Fine Louis XV Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Table Vitrine by François Linke. French, circa 1900. Linke Index Number 131. The lockplate signed 'F.Linke', the mounts variousl...

Important display case attributed to l'Escalier de Cristal, made in engraved gilded bronze, with bent and beveled glazed panels and mirror background plaques. The top and the sides can be completely and widely opened. L’Escalier de Cristal, Parisian firm created circa 1800 by Mme veuve Desarnaud, famous under the French “Restoration” for its decorative objects combining crystal and bronze. She was awarded a gold medal at the 1819 Paris Exposition des Produits de l’Industrie for an outstanding gilt-bronze mounted crystal dressing table. Located in Paris, at the Palais-Royal, Galerie de Valois, L’Escalier de Cristal was bought out circa 1830 by Boin, and then by Lahoche in 1840. The company owed its rise to a position amongst the most important Paris decorative wares shops to Lahoche, who expanded considerably the business and entered later in partnership with his son-in-law to set up in 1852 Lahoche et...

A very large and impressive fine quality 19th century French mahogany Virine, in the style of Louis XVI by 'Francoise Linke'. Having wonderful gilded ormolu mounts of scrolling foli...

A fine and rare Italian Venetian 19th century giltwood carved Rococo "Vernis Martin" style decorated credenza vitrine cabinet with a marble top. The upper single door vitrine with a ...

A very good quality late 19th century French mahogany free standing oval vitrine, having a gilded ormolu gallery to the top and foliate mounts to the pelm...

A very good quality pair of late 19th century French mahogany bow fronted display cabinets, each with a gallery to the top, gilded ormolu foliate and molded mounts, central doors with a glass shelf within, a frieze drawer above a shelf beneath with a paneled back and raised on elegant cabriole legs. Signed; Paul Sormani (1817-1877), one the most important cabinetmakers of the 19th century, was born in Venice. Having trained as a cabinetmaker, he moved to Paris where he opened his first shop in 1847 specializing in furniture made in the Louis XV and Louis XVI style. When she decorated her palace, Empress Eugenie, the wife of Emperor Napoleon III, who was particularly fond of furniture in the 18th century styles, engaged Sormani to create spectacular pieces to compliment her period examples. Sormani was able to meet the Empress’s high standards with the excellent quality of the cabinet work, bronze mounts, use of lacquer and unusual marbles. Sormani’s firm was a maker of fine “meubles de luxe”, (deluxe furniture) whose work was described in the 1867 Exposition Universelle catalogue as “toute sa production revele une qualite d’execution de tout premier ordre”. He received a medal of premiere classe at the Exposition Universelle of 1855, followed by another medal at the 1862 exposition in London The workshop also made eclectic furniture...

19th c signed P Sormani French Louis XVI viewing cabinet. The cabinet is illuminated and made from Mahogany with ebony inlay. Beautiful first quality b...

A great quality late 19th century louis xv style gilt bronze mounted kingwood vitrine. By François Linke - Varient of Index Number 38 and 1122. Surmounted by a Brèche d'Alep ma...

An impressive pair of Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany vitrines by François Linke. French, circa 1890. Signed to the reverse of the bronze mounts ‘LINKE’. Each ...

Mid Century , in walnut, rosewood and maple bar cabinet attributed to Vittorio Dassi designer. All the external parts are with curved edges, three drawers with golden brass handle, f...

Pair of Italian painted and gilt vitrines with hinged glass tops, carved intertwined decorative floral vine motif, corner floral medallions, and terminating on bulbous fluted legs su...

A very fine French Louis XV style ormolu and jasperware-mounted mahogany single door vitrine, attributed to François Linke (1855-1946). The two upper front corners surmounted with or...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted mahogany vitrine, by Alfred Louis Beurdeley. French, circa 1880. Stamped to the carcass ‘A. Beurdeley à Paris’. This fine mahogany...

A fine French, 19th-20th century Louis XV style mahogany and gilt bronze-mounted Vitrine by Haentges Freres. The single door cabinet surmounted with or...

This beautiful display cabinet was crafted by the prestigious furniture company, Maison Krieger. The firm was founded in 1826 by Antoine Krieger. Over the course of the 19th century,...

A fine French 19th century Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu mounted two-tier vitrine cabinet. The upper section with a single glass front door below a pierced gilt-bronze floral r...

A fine French 19th-20th century Louis XV style Kingwood and ormolu-mounted single-door Vitrine, the demilune shaped cabinet with and arched bonnet, molded trim above a bombé glazed d...

Venetian trumeau from 20th century. Double body cabinet in lacquered, gilded and painted wood with floral decorations of great pleasure. Trumeau for living room with three external d...

A fine late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted double vitrine cabinet By Henri Picard The vitrine fitted with a nice inset marble top, the upper cabinet with a long single drawer and bronze women busts on the corners. The bottom part with ram heads and centered with cornucopia and a lions mask. Stamped HPR, for Henri Picard, on the back of some bronzes. The important fondeur and doreur Henri Picard worked in Paris from 1831-1884, most notably for the Emperor Napoléon III. He was based in Paris at 6, rue Jarente from 1831 to 1839, before moving to 10, rue de la Perle...

A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu mounted plum pudding mahogany veneer, mahogany and Vernis Martin decorated vitrine à Deux Corps, probably by François Linke (1855-1946). The lower structure fitted with finely chased gilt-bronze mounts with female masks, musical instruments, floral drapes, bows and acanthus, centred with a frieze drawer and a cupboard door with three painted panels. The centre front painted panel with a Romantic courting park setting scene amongst sheep and a sculpture fountain of Putti; the side panels both with parks scenes of a resting lion sculpture and fountain flanked by grassing sheep. The lower cabinet interior with three drawers, the upper vitrine case with two glass shelves, a bowed beveled front door and sides, crowned with a fine gilt-bronze wreath mount with ribbons, all raised on four cabriolet legs with cast lion paw mounts. Unsigned, Paris, circa 1890-1900. The style of this cabinet is closely related to those produced in the Paris furniture making trade in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine in the 1880s and as such, without a signature or identifying mark, is unattributable. However, there are similarities with the firm Raoux et Brunet, some of whose mounts were designed by Léon Messagé and later used by François Linke. Indeed many of the mounts on this cabinet, whilst not exclusive to him, are very similar to the work produced in his early years in Paris in the 1880s. At this time Linke was making furniture to order...

Rare and important 19th century French kingwood and parquetry inlaid display or vitrine cabinet, signed by the renowned designer and cabinet maker François Linke. The shaped bonnet atop large glass double doors and inset parquetry panels trimmed in bronze. Finely appointed overall with remarkably detailed gilt bronze mounts depicting caryatid masques, maiden busts, shells, acanthus leaves, and fleur de lis. The entire on gilt bronze animal...

A great quality late 19th century Louis xvi style gilt bronze-mounted vitrine. By François Linke. The rectangular paneled top with three-quarter gallery, above a conforming ent...

A very fine French Louis XVI style Belle Époque gilt bronze and carved verde green and parcel-gilt exhibition vitrine display cabinet with side doors, circa 1900, Paris. Measures:...

Monumental 19th century French Empire black lacquered vitrine or display cabinet. The shaped bonnet with intricate doré bronze appointments above...

A very Fine French 19th-20th century Louis XVI style mahogany and ormolu-mounted four-door vitrine, with two central bombé glass doors and single bombé glass doors on each side, the fluted mahogany...

Attributed to Francois Linke, this fine Louis XV style kingwood vitrine features ormolu mounts, an oval jasperware plaque, and retains it's original marble top. The vitrine is from t...

This unusual cabinet, though plainly Art Nouveau, pays homage to Louis XV. It is bombe, with gently swelling sides and front. This ebeniste really knew his trade, the drawer fronts a...

Gueridon showcase in polychromed and gilded bronze, France, Napoleon III, about the third third of the 19th century. The small circular table shows a top panel in transparent glass, ...

About as original as can be, this stellar antique only received a minimal amount of conservation in our highly regarded workshop. Constructed of exotic rosewood, the case packs quite...

A fine quality late 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted two-door Vernis Martin Vitrine Surmounted by a marble top above a frieze with scrolling foliage, above two glas...

A fine Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted Vitrine with a Brèche d’Alep Marble Top By Franc¸ois Linke Signed to the reverse of the lock ‘CT LINKE/ PARIS’. Linke index number 208. Th...

A fine and rare English 19th-20th century Chippendale style carved oak and parcel-gilt console vitrine. The narrow upper two-door vitrine crowned with a carved parcel-gilt peacock fe...

A fine quality French kingwood, marble topped vitrine having shaped glass to the front and sides. Beautiful ormolu mounts and raised on cabriole legs. The the manner of 'Linke.'.

Pair of Italian painted and gilt hanging glass wall vitrines with fitted interior upholstered shelving, floral gilt motif, and the original wood bac...

The vitrine oval shaped, with central hinged tall doors to the front and glazed display all around, mounted with ormolu handles and short legs.

A Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Style Vitrine By Paul Sormani Bronze gallery above a centred glass door, flanked by glass panels, four bronze mounted tapering leg...

Early 20th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted parquetry vitrine by François Linke. Index number 458. The fleur de pêcher marble-top above a scrolling acanthus and ...

Impressive pair of French 19th century Louis XV style gilt bronze-mounted Kingwood and mahogany marquetry Encoigneurs, corner cabinets or vitrines, attributed to Paul Sormani. The upper section with molded cornice and shell cresting and enclosed by a bowed glazed panel door, the lower section surmounted by a marble top of arc-en-arbalète outline above two frieze drawers and cupboards below enclosed by tambour shutters, raised on short cabriole legs ending in foliate sabots, lock plates engraved 'Sormani PARIS.' Circa: Paris, 1875. Height: 90 1/2 inches (230 cm). Width: 44 inches (112 cm). Depth: 29 inches (74 cm). Sormani, Paul (1817-1877): Born in Venice, Paul Sormani set up in Paris in the middle of the 19th century. He specialized in creating furniture and works of art and was known for his high quality reproductions of Louis XV and XVI furniture...

A late 19th century Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted vitrine by Victor Raulin. Bronze gallery above a centered glass door, flanked by glass panels. Raulin exhibited and r...

The stunning cabinet in the Napoleon III style and of the sam period, featuring inlaid Boulle work panels of brass and fine scarlet tortoise shell, with cast ormolu mounts depicting ...

A Fantastic Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Style Vitrine By Victor Raulin A center glass door with three shelves, quartered veneer bottom and sides. Stamped Rauli...

66" gilded Mid-Century iron four-tier shelf.

A monumental antique Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted vitrine cabinet by Manoy of Brussels. This large and impressive vitrine features marquetry inlays, four glazed doors and exten...

A spectacular large French Napoleon III ormolu mounted showcase by Charles-Guillaume Diehl, and Helene Bertaux. Each one of the three glazed doors mounted with a relief-cast oval plaque depicting flying putti and a lady in various positions, flanked by acanthus leaves and ribbons. The shoulders mounted with female espagnolettes, topped with a gilt bronze bust of a lady. Lock plate signed DIEHL/19. R. Michel-le-Comte/PARIS The plaques by Helene Bertaux (Madame Leon Bertaux...

Unique vitrine by Jules Leleu in mahogany marquetry, patinated metal and gilt bronze Numbered 33774 5697. Provenance: This vitrine was created for Mr. Renondin and is entered ...

A fine 19th century French Louis XVI kingwood and marquetry inlaid viewing cabinet. Fine gilt bronze mounts .Attributed to F. Linke

A very fine 19th century French Louis XVI kingwood and marquetry vitrine with fine gilt bronze mounts . Attributed to Linke.

A quite unusual 19th century English, 18th century style, chinoiserie pagoda shaped giltwood and black lacquered vitrine/display cabinet/showcase...

A vitrine cabinet in the Louis XV Vernis Martin manner Constructed in kingwood, richly dressed with finely cast and chased ormolu mounts, and...