Antique ebonised wood, gilt bronze and hardstone cabinet

Antique ebonised wood, gilt bronze and hardstone cabinet
French, 19th Century
Height 114cm, width 172cm, depth 55cm
 
This cabinet is an exquisite piece of antique furniture, which is crafted from beautifully-contrasting ebonised wood, golden gilt bronze (ormolu) and colourful hardstones.
 
The cabinet is composed of a wide, bombé-fronted body which is set on block feet. The cabinet’s top is edged with a gilt bronze egg-and-bellflower band, and its frieze is decorated with gilt bronze openwork rinceau bands and square rosettes.
 
The cabinet body is composed of a central compartment—featuring two shelves behind a closed door—flanked by a pair of three glazed shelves. The central door is decorated with a pietra dura (hardstone) design which depicts a bouquet of flowers with a bird and butterfly. This design is contained within a gilt bronze oval wreath frame, with a ribbon bow above and crossed branches below. This door and the glazed doors are articulated by inlaid brass frames. The central door is flanked by a pair of cable-fluted Corinthian columns with gilt bronze acanthus leaf capitals, husk trail flutes, and bases.
 
The cabinet is set on a base, the upper edge of which is lined with a gilt bronze band decorated with ovolos (eggs) and bellflowers. The cabinet is set on block feet which are mounted with gilt bronze rectangular rosettes. These feet are linked by shaped aprons which are inlaid with brass. The side aprons are further ornamented by gilt bronze foliate cartouches.