Antique French Louis XV style ormolu and Vernis Martin mounted cabinet

Antique French Louis XV style ormolu and Vernis Martin mounted cabinet
French, Late 19th Century
Height 119cm, width 121cm, depth 48cm
 
Crafted in the late 19th century, this cabinet (also called meuble d’appui) is in the ornate Louis XV style and is adorned with a large selection of ormolu mounts.
 
The piece is topped by a shaped marble top, below which is a frieze filled with one long and two short ormolu mounts. The central one is hiding a drawer which can be opened with a push of a button. The large, central panel is executed using the Vernis Martin technique, developed in the 18th century by the French Martin brothers. It is a japanning or imitation lacquer technique, and pieces decorated with Vernis Martin panels, such as the cabinet in Mayfair Gallery’s collection are very desirable. The panel depicts a courtship party set in a woodland, with figures dressed in typical 18th century clothing. The scene is framed by ornate ormolu mounts made up of scrolls and acanthus leaves. Similar mounts are placed on two smaller, side panels framing the beautiful veneers. The central, lockable door opens to reveal two adjustable shelves.
 
The antique stands on four cabriole legs, terminating with ormolu acanthus sabots.
 
The wooden carcass is stamped ‘T. VINCENT’ in several places and on the reverse is a paper label with illegible ink writing.
 
Of very high quality, this meuble d’appui can be used to display one’s collection of decorative objects.