Napoleon III Display Cabinet in the style of Vernis Martin, France, 19th Century

Details

Description

Antique display cabinet in the manner of Vernis Martin belonging to the Napoleon III period. The shape is the classic … Read more Antique display cabinet in the manner of Vernis Martin belonging to the Napoleon III period. The shape is the classic demilune shape with a central door painted with a gallant scene and internally adjustable shelves according to need. On the sides it has the same layout as the front but with paintings depicting rural scenes all enclosed between bronze fittings. The top is in red French marble and is surrounded by beautiful, expertly chiseled bronze frames. The feet have a cabriolet shape ending in bronze socks and are connected by a mixed-line band. Historical Notes: One of the most famous lacquer surface finishes in cabinet making is of French origin and takes the name of Vernis Martin, a technique developed in 1728 in Paris by the Martin brothers and aimed at imitating the then highly sought after oriental lacquers, in particular the Chinese and Japanese ones, extremely expensive. Based on the use of copal, it had the characteristic of being able to be applied with relative ease even on surfaces with strong curvatures, something that other lacquers could not tolerate, while at the same time being very delicate, especially in the case of contact with water. The high number of layers that made it up also made it possible to obtain perfect connections between neighboring surfaces or with different finishes. with the historicist revival of eighteenth-century taste in the nineteenth century, the lacquering techniques of the time were also recovered and the furniture made in the style was again decorated with this type of finish. Origin: France (1880/90) Conditions: Good condition. Measurements: 70x35 H160cm. Document: Certificate of Authenticity. See less