Pair Dore' Bronze Mounted French Louis XV Night Stands Attr. Joseph Zweiner

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Description

There are night stands… and then there are night stands that look as though they have just stepped out of … Read more There are night stands… and then there are night stands that look as though they have just stepped out of a candlelit salon on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, brushed past a duchess, and decided to settle quietly beside your bed.

This exquisite pair of French Louis XV style nightstands, richly mounted in doré gilded bronze with Breche d Violette marble tops are attributed to Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, possess that rare, almost theatrical elegance that makes you instinctively lower your voice when you approach them.

Crafted in the sinuous Louis XV taste, each stand is a masterclass in movement. The cases swell gently at the sides in a subtle bombe form, while the cabriole legs descend with feline grace, terminating in finely chased gilt bronze sabots that gleam like polished slippers. The mounts are not mere decoration — they are punctuation. Flowing rocaille cartouches, acanthus scrolls, and delicate foliate sprays frame the drawer fronts and corners, each mount executed in luminous doré bronze that catches light the way a well-told story catches attention.

The tops, edged in gilt bronze galleries, crown the pieces with quiet authority. One cabinet features a concealed door panel framed in scrolling ormolu, while the other presents open tiered shelves — an elegant asymmetry that suggests these were designed for both beauty and practical bedside ritual. The warm kingwood veneers display fine grain patterns, their honeyed tones deepened by time, contrasting beautifully with the glowing gold mounts.

Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener (1849–1895) was one of the great ébénistes working in Paris during the late 19th century, a period when the revival of 18th-century French styles reached extraordinary heights. Born in Germany and trained in the rigorous traditions of European cabinetmaking, Zwiener established himself in Paris and became known for producing museum-quality furniture inspired by Louis XV and Louis XVI masterpieces. His work was often supplied to prestigious retailers such as Maison Krieger and exhibited at international expositions. Zwiener’s pieces were not copies — they were reverent interpretations, crafted with obsessive attention to bronze casting, veneer selection, and proportion.

These nightstands embody that legacy. They are not simply bedside tables; they are declarations of refinement. Ideal for collectors of fine French furniture, Louis XV antiques, or gilt bronze mounted case pieces, they would anchor a master suite, flank a giltwood bed, or elevate a curated interior with undeniable presence.

And somewhere, if you listen closely, you can almost hear the faint echo of Paris — carriage wheels on cobblestone and the quiet click of ormolu catching candlelight.

Measures 33.5 tall x 14.5 wide x 14.75 deep. See less