Located in Swedesboro, NJ
An exceptionally rare and imposing pair of French carved oak display cabinets, executed in the grand Louis XIV taste and dating to the late nineteenth century or, at the latest, the very beginning of the twentieth century. Monumental in scale and extraordinarily decorative, these cabinets are particularly remarkable for having survived as a true matching pair. Individual examples of this type occasionally appear on the market; finding two corresponding cabinets—the “twins”—together is exceedingly unusual and transforms the ensemble from impressive furniture into a genuinely exceptional decorative statement.
Each cabinet is conceived architecturally in two sections. The substantial lower body incorporates a pair of paneled doors beneath drawers, while the upper display cabinet is fitted with three glazed doors and flanking glazed panels. The glass-fronted upper sections provide generous space for displaying porcelain, silver, crystal, books, or collections of objets d’art while preserving the imposing character of the cabinetry itself.
The oak has developed a handsome, warm honey-brown coloration, with the natural grain remaining visible beneath an abundance of deeply modeled carving. The façades are animated by scrolling foliage, flowers, shells, cartouches and vigorous acanthus ornament. Particularly striking are the carved crests crowning the broken, undulating cornices. These sculptural compositions give each cabinet a commanding silhouette and establish the strong vertical emphasis characteristic of French Baroque furniture...
Category
1890s French Louis XIV Antique New Jersey