A FINE LOUIS XV STYLE ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD AND PURPLEHEART MAHOGANY MARQUETRY AND PARQUETRY SECRETAIRE SUR TABLEAU

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A FINE LOUIS XV STYLE ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD AND PURPLEHEART MAHOGANY MARQUETRY AND PARQUETRY SECRETAIRE SUR TABLEAU
INSCRIBED ZWIENER PARIS 1888

With a shaped rectangular ormolu-moulded cornice crested by an ormolu medallion depicting Louis XIV suspended by clouds and a putto above a shaped rectangular door with a foliate ormolu-moulded panel centering a panel inlaid with stained and engraved woods depicting a bouquet, above an architectural panel inset with an ormolu plaque depicting frolicking putti flanked by foliate ormolu-moulded angles and enclosing a shaped interior fitted with a central bombeé door with cartouche-shaped foliate ormolu-moulded panel polychromed with a scene of lovers in a landscape after Fragonard, over a drawer and flanked by niches over three dolphins and a spring-activated hinged writing surface on a serpentine ormolu-moulded top, above a shaped conforming frieze, applied with berried laurel swags and cornucopia, and centrally inlaid with a bouquet flanked by panels inlaid with fruits of the sea and fruits of the land on foliate ormolu-moulded cabriole legs with scrolling feet applied at the angles with lions' skins, the sides with ormolu-moulded parquetry panels and fitted with two opposing frieze drawers--89¼in. (226.5cm.) high, 37½in. (95.3cm.) wide, 24in. (61cm.) deep

Lot Essay

Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener is recorded as having worked in Paris between 1880 and 1895 (D. Ledoux-Lebard, Les Ebénéstes du XIX Siècle, 1985, pp. 645-647)

The quality of craftmanship from the Zwiener altier is well-recognized from the few documented pieces on record, all of which are executed in the Louis XV or Louis XVI style. It appears that Zwiener did not stamp all of his work exclusively, although some stamped or inscribed pieces are documented. The high quality of cabinetry coupled with the profuse use of fine wood in the secondary are characteristic of Zwiener's oeuvre. He is also noted for his execution of the "Bureau du Roi" signed Zwiener, Paris 1889, originally designed by J.H. Riesener and F. Oeben for Louis XV, from which the motifs for this Secretaire Sur Tableau are drawn.

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