A Louis XVI style ormolu and porcelain-mounted amaranth and tulipwood bonheur du jour

THE CABINET CIRCA 1880, THE PORCELAIN 18TH CENTURY

Details

A Louis XVI style ormolu and porcelain-mounted amaranth and tulipwood bonheur du jour
The cabinet circa 1880, The porcelain 18th Century
The shaped pierced galleried top inset with grey-veined white marble above an entrelac frieze set with a long drawer, above a central panelled fall-front inset with a shaped rectangular plaque painted with a ribbon-suspended basket of flowers against a white ground, framed within a green band, the reverse of the plaque with impressed and blue-painted letters and interlaced 'L's mark for Sèvres, dropping to reveal a green leather writing surface and a satinwood-lined interior fitted with two shelves and six short drawers, flanked to each side by a panelled alcove with three marble-topped galleried shelves, the conforming stand with laurel-wreath frieze, set to the front with a long drawer, the tapering squared legs applied with ribbon-hung vines and joined by a conforming undertier
55½ in. high; 45½ in. wide; 13 in. (13 cm.) deep

Literature

D. Peters, Decorator and Date Marks on 18th Century Vincennes and Sèvres Porcelain, London, 1997, p. 35.

Lot Essay

The marks on the reverse of the porcelain plaque relate to a flower painter named Freta, active 1763-1773. This attribution is unconfirmed, and his marks normally appeared on teawares. It is interesting to note that the plaque was repaired at one time, and during the restoration, reproduced marks were placed over the originals. As part of the restoration, a later green and gilt border was added. It is likely that the plaque was originally a tray, or part of a table ambulante that has been cut down for use in this cabinet, a common practice with 19th century ébénistes.

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