A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted Japanese lacquer, mother-of-pearl, ebony, emboyna and mahogany secrétaire à abattant
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted Japanese lacquer, mother-of-pearl, ebony, emboyna and mahogany secrétaire à abattant

IN THE MANNER OF ADAM WEISWEILER, CIRCA 1855; THE JAPANESE LACQUER EDO PERIOD (1615-1868)

Details
A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted Japanese lacquer, mother-of-pearl, ebony, emboyna and mahogany secrétaire à abattant
In the manner of Adam Weisweiler, Circa 1855; The Japanese lacquer Edo period (1615-1868)
Surmounted by a shaped white marble top, above a frieze with scrolling foliage, the front fitted with a drawer, above a drop-front panel depicting spring blossoms and geometrical flowers, flanked to each side by a canephora or female term carrying a flower-filled basket, standing on a baluster stem, the sides with conforming panels, the interior fitted with three pigeon-holes and four small drawers, all decorated with foliage and birds, the drop-front lined with a gilt-tooled tan-colour leather writing-surface, above a frieze decorated with algae and shell fish, the front fitted with a long drawer, on two fluted tapering front legs and two square back legs, joined by a pierced shaped stretcher, on four toupie feet; the back of the carcass bearing the stamps CARLIN and ...ME
52 in. (132 cm.) high; 29½ in. (75 cm.) wide; 16¼ in. (41.5 cm.) deep
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

This secrétaire-à-abattant is in the style of either Martin Carlin or Adam Weisweiler, both working in the last half of the 18th century in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, supplying the marchand-mercier Daguerre with their latest creations. Although stamped Carlin, this cabinet is a very high-crafted 19th century version, probably made in one of the Parisian workshops during the reign of Napoleon III, probably due to the re-born fashion for Marie-Antoinette-style pieces launched by Imperatrice Eugénie.

From 1743 until 1789, the cabinet-makers were obliged by law to stamp their latest creations with the initials JME, standing for Jurande des menuisiers-ébénistes, an association controlling the quality standards of the newly-produced pieces of furniture.

The Japanese lacquer panels are all decorated in gold and silver hiramaki-e on a roiro ground, the front with pomegranate and plum trees, the sides each with pine trees and bamboo.

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