ATTRIBUTED TO JOSEPH-EMMANUEL ZWIENER, CIRCA 1890

The German-born ébéniste, Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, established his atelier at 12, rue de la Roquette in 1880 and continued to work from that address until 1895. Copying most of the 18th century styles and replicating articles from the Garde-Meuble Nationale, he participated in the major international exhibitions of the late 19th century, winning a Gold Medal in Paris in 1889. Impressed by the quality of his work, the jury at the latter exhibition reported: "Dès ses débuts à une Exposition universelle, [il] s'est mis au premier rang par la richesse, la hardiesse et le fini de ses meubles incrustés de bronze et fort habilement".