Vitrine Attributed to J.E. Zwiener and L. Messagé, France, Circa 1890

A rare and unusual matched pair of Louis XVI style gilt bronze-mounted wall vitrines by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. French, circa 1890. Signed ‘E. Zwiener’ to the base of the bro...

An important pair of Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted vitrines with wedgwood Jasperware plaques, by Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. French, circa 1880. Stamped 'NZ', 'NZ.309' and 'ZJ' to the reverse of the bronze mounts. Signed to the reverse of the lockplate 'Mon THEAU THIEFFINE Succ./SERRURIER PARIS'. This rare pair of vitrines, each have a shaped Carrera marble top above a frieze centred by a round classical Jasperware plaque flanked by gilt-bronze putti figures and scrolling acanthus running pattern. Below is a gilt-bronze framed bevelled glass door above a panel centred by a finely modelled Jasperware plaque of a putto representing the seasons. The door is flanked to either side by gilt-bronze monnaie pattern and headed by a pair of exceptionally fine female canephor figures. The shaped sides have corresponding bevelled glass panels and the vitrine is raised on tapering fluted legs. The distinctive canephor figures, finely cast as female caryatids with ringlets in their hair and supporting baskets of fruit upon their heads, is a distinctive and celebrated model unique to Zwiener. Many of Zwieners bronzes are executed in the Louis XV style, with flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves and an emphasis on asymmetry, typical of the work of his bronze sculptor Léon Messagé. The mounts employed on this rare pair of vitrines however sees Zwiener creating his own up-to-date reinterpretation of the Louis XVI style, drawing inspiration from established Louis XVI models such as those designed by Weisweiler for Marie-Antoinette's Dressing table. [See Mestdagh, p.305]. A second distinctive feature of the vitrines is the finely modelled Wedgwood Jasperware plaques incorporated in the frieze of each vitrine and beneath the doors. Wedgwood exhibited at nearly all of the Universal Exhibitions held in 19th century France, displaying amongst other pieces, plaques specifically intended to be mounted on to furniture. The first vitrine displays to the frieze a finely modelled plaque in the classical style, depicting a group of putti at play, one being pushed on a swing, while another plays a trumpet and a small attentive dog watches from below. Beneath the glass panelled door a larger Jasperware plaque is incorporated depicting a putto figure with a garland of flowers, emblematic of spring. The second vitrine has a classical plaque...

A wonderful late 19th century gilt bronze Mounted Louis XV style Vitrine table by Joseph Zwiener Joseph Zwiener The oval shaped table with a beveled glass top encircled by a bronze frieze, above four side glass panels, the canted angles set with pierced foliate-cast clasps, standing on cabriole legs tapering to scrolled sabots. Born in Herdon, Germany, in 1849, Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener followed the tradition of some of the best ébnistes of the nineteenth century. He moved to Paris establishing a workshop at 12, rue de la Roquette, between 1880 and 1895. He produced a wide array of the very finest furniture, modeling in his own interpretations of the eighteenth century Louis XV Rococo style, veneered with the highest and finest quality marquetry and ‘Vernis Martin’ panels. Exhibiting at the Exposition Universelle, Paris, in 1889, Zwiener was awarded a gold medal for what the jury reported as ‘dè ses dèbuts à une Exposition Universelle, [il] s’est mi au premier rang par la richesse, la hardinesse, et le fini de ses meubles incrustés de bronze et fort habilment marquetés.’ Zwiener was closely associated with François Linke, and the two houses produced work which, at first glance, is remarkably similar and with occasionally identical mounts. The similarities are made more likely by the fact that the brilliant sculptor, Léon Messagé, worked initially for Zwiener and subsequently, upon Zwiener’s departure for Berlin to work on furniture commissioned by Freidrich Wilhelm II , he was employed in the workshop of François Linke. It appears that Zwiener, unlike Linke, did not sign all his work, although some stamped pieces with his name and/or his “Z” initial are documented. There is some uncertainty between the recorded stamp E. Zwiener and the work of a Julius Zwiener...

A very fine French 19th century Louis XV style ormolu mounted plum pudding mahogany veneer, mahogany and Vernis Martin decorated vitrine à Deux Corps, probably by François Linke (1855-1946). The lower structure fitted with finely chased gilt-bronze mounts with female masks, musical instruments, floral drapes, bows and acanthus, centred with a frieze drawer and a cupboard door with three painted panels. The centre front painted panel with a Romantic courting park setting scene amongst sheep and a sculpture fountain of Putti; the side panels both with parks scenes of a resting lion sculpture and fountain flanked by grassing sheep. The lower cabinet interior with three drawers, the upper vitrine case with two glass shelves, a bowed beveled front door and sides, crowned with a fine gilt-bronze wreath mount with ribbons, all raised on four cabriolet legs with cast lion paw mounts. Unsigned, Paris, circa 1890-1900. The style of this cabinet is closely related to those produced in the Paris furniture making trade in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine in the 1880s and as such, without a signature or identifying mark, is unattributable. However, there are similarities with the firm Raoux et Brunet, some of whose mounts were designed by Léon Messagé and later used by François Linke. Indeed many of the mounts on this cabinet, whilst not exclusive to him, are very similar to the work produced in his early years in Paris in the 1880s. At this time Linke was making furniture to order...

A Kingwood vitrine attributed to Maison G. Grimard, a well known French Ebenistes de art in the 19th century. The Ormolu mounted cabinet and frame are mounted with acanthus leaves an...

Matched pair of 19th Century French Kingwood serpentine fronted vitrines, each with classical gilded ormolu mounts, adjustable shelves within, Verni Martin hand painted panels depict...

Marble Top French Ormolu Kingwood Inlaid Marquetry Vitrine Attributed To Linke Dimensions : 55" Wide X 47" Tall X 16" Deep This gorgeous vitrine was made in the 19th century in Fra...

This superb French Louis XVI style vitrine, attributed to the renowned Parisian cabinetmaker François Linke (1855–1946), is a masterful example of early 20th-century craftsmanship at...

Fantastic display and storage cabinet constructed around the turn of the century in France. Beautiful Art Nouveau lines crown this showcase...

An antique French Louis XV display vitrine offers giltwood construction with upper pierced gallery over case with single drawer opening to mirrored an...