A pair of French ormolu-mounted kingwood vitrines

Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener was born in Herdon, Germany, in 1849. He moved to Paris and established his workshop at 12, rue de la Roquette and reportedely worked from that address between 1880 and 1895.
He produced the very finest furniture replicating articles from the Garde-Meuble National of France. His work appears to be mainly in the Louis XV rococo manner, inset with fine marquetry, Vernis Martin panels and encrusted with gilt-bronze mounts, all to the highest standards of manufacture. However, the furniture that he created was in a very, florid and elaborate Louis XV style.
Exhibiting at the Paris Exposition Universelle, in 1889, he was given a gold medal. The jury 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 marquetés'.