Lot Essay
A similar 17th Century Florentine table cabinet with raisable top and rock crystal columns is illustrated in M. Riccardi-Cubitt, The Art of the Cabinet, London, 1992, figs. 24-25.
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LATE 17TH CENTURY, ON A LATER PORTUGUESE STAND
Details
A FLORENTINE ORMOLU, ROCK-CRYSTAL AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONE MOUNTED EBONY, KINGWOOD AND EBONISED TABLE CABINET
Late 17th Century, on a later Portuguese stand
With ripple-moulding overall, the stepped hinged top enclosing a velvet-lined well, the underside of the top with octagon and geometric panels, the central panel with a mirror, the others with pierced C-scroll and foliate mounts holding lapis lazuli, agate and other semi-precious stones, above a pair of geometrically-panelled doors with a grotesque cartouche on each, enclosing an architectural fitted interior with a central triumphal arch flanked on each side by pillared niches, each with a classical figure, the triumphal arch surmounted by two winged figures, with spirally-turned columns and balustrade surmounted by four further figures, the whole with pierced C-scroll and foliate mounts framing semi-precious stones, concealing thirteen variously-sized drawers and eight secret drawers, above a green silk-lined frieze-drawer, the geometrically-panelled sides with carrying handles, on a later ebonised hardwood stand with shaped apron and cabriole legs with pad feet, the left-hand statue of Mars later, lacking four further statues to the interior gallery
40 in. (132 cm.) high; 38 in. (96.5 cm.) wide; 19 in. (48 cm.) deep
Late 17th Century, on a later Portuguese stand
With ripple-moulding overall, the stepped hinged top enclosing a velvet-lined well, the underside of the top with octagon and geometric panels, the central panel with a mirror, the others with pierced C-scroll and foliate mounts holding lapis lazuli, agate and other semi-precious stones, above a pair of geometrically-panelled doors with a grotesque cartouche on each, enclosing an architectural fitted interior with a central triumphal arch flanked on each side by pillared niches, each with a classical figure, the triumphal arch surmounted by two winged figures, with spirally-turned columns and balustrade surmounted by four further figures, the whole with pierced C-scroll and foliate mounts framing semi-precious stones, concealing thirteen variously-sized drawers and eight secret drawers, above a green silk-lined frieze-drawer, the geometrically-panelled sides with carrying handles, on a later ebonised hardwood stand with shaped apron and cabriole legs with pad feet, the left-hand statue of Mars later, lacking four further statues to the interior gallery
40 in. (132 cm.) high; 38 in. (96.5 cm.) wide; 19 in. (48 cm.) deep
Provenance
Anonymously sold, Leira & Nascimento, Lisbon, 11 December 1954, lot 313.