Napoleon III period gilt bronze and porcelain mounted cabinet by Louis Grade

Napoleon III period gilt bronze and porcelain mounted cabinet by Louis Grade
French, c. 1860
Height 160cm, width 82cm, depth 41cm

This beautiful cabinet is a superb example of the taste that prevailed during the reign of Napoleon III. The cabinet is crafted from wonderfully wrought parquetry veneered wood and is mounted with finely cast gilt bronze and deftly painted porcelain plaques.

The cabinet is comprised of two sections: a larger section below with twin doors and a top section with two glazed doors, both sections opening to reveal three shelves each. The cabinet is mounted with a whole host of gilt bronze mounts, all superbly cast in an eclectic, historicising style: the rinceaux frieze at the top, the espagnolettes on the corners, the foliate forms—all recall the Rococo. The doors of the lower section are mounted with oval porcelain plaques painted in the Rococo manner with flowers, while the doors on the top are inset with shaped glazing.

The lockplate is signed 'L GRADE 23 rue de la Paix PARIS'.

Artist/maker: Louis Grade (French, active 19th century)