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ID #SA1189908
FOR SALE
£1,500
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Antique French Vernis Martin Secretaire Cabinet with Marble Top & Secret Drawer - C.1890
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
for sale €1,755     $1,905
£1,500
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors

Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2012
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Id #SA1189908
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Antique French Vernis Martin Secretaire Cabinet with Marble Top & Secret Drawer - C.1890

19th century
Description

An elegant French Vernis Martin secretaire cabinet dating from the late 19th century, circa 1890.

The cabinet is topped with a rouge marble slab and fitted with a drop-front writing surface opening to a fitted interior with shelving and drawers. Retains its original blue velvet writing surface.

Of particular note is a concealed secret drawer, released by a hidden push mechanism - a fine example of traditional French cabinetmaking ingenuity.

The front panel is decorated with a finely painted Vernis Martin scene, and the cabinet stands on graceful cabriole legs with decorative mounts.

A highly decorative and functional piece, ideal for use as a small desk or statement cabinet.

Height 128cm x Width 60cm x Depth 39cm

Physical Dimensions
Height
128cm (50.39")
Width
60cm (23.62")
Depth
39cm (15.35")
Declaration

Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors has dated this French Vernis Martin Secretaire to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1189908
Description
An elegant French Vernis Martin secretaire cabinet dating from the late 19th century, circa 1890.
“
The cabinet is topped with a rouge marble slab and fitted with a drop-front writing surface opening to a fitted interior with shelving and drawers.
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors

Retains its original blue velvet writing surface.

fig 1. An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene.
fig 1. Antique French Vernis Martin Secretaire Cabinet with Marble Top & Secret Drawer - C.1890

Of particular note is a concealed secret drawer, released by a hidden push mechanism - a fine example of traditional French cabinetmaking ingenuity.

The front panel is decorated with a finely painted Vernis Martin scene, and the cabinet stands on graceful cabriole legs with decorative mounts.

A highly decorative and functional piece, ideal for use as a small desk or statement cabinet.

Height 128cm x Width 60cm x Depth 39cm

Height
128cm (50.39")
Width
60cm (23.62")
Depth
39cm (15.35")
Date of Manufacture

Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors has dated this French Vernis Martin Secretaire to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1189908
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2012
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors Profile Page

Relevant Links
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An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene.
1 / 6
Archive I An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene.

Antique French Vernis Martin Secretaire Cabinet with Marble Top & Secret Drawer - C.1890

Archive II An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene. View II
Archive III An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene. View III
Archive IV An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene. View IV
Archive V An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene. View V
Archive VI An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene. View VI
Enlarged Archival View
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors

Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
Telephone 01446 744271 or 07973 734452
Location
Unit 15
Palmers Vale Business Centre
Palmerston Road
Barry
Glamorgan
CF63 2XA
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/hawkinsbrothersantiques
Verified Since Oct 2012
Items For Sale 156
Items Sold 923
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
Lee Hawkins Antiques & Interiors
Verified Since Oct 2012
View Dealer Info
Location: Unit 15, Palmers Vale Business Centre, Palmerston Road, Barry, Glamorgan, CF63 2XA, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/hawkinsbrothersantiques
Verified
Oct 2012
For Sale
156
Sold
923
An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene.
Antique French Vernis Martin Secretaire Cabinet with Marble Top & Secret Drawer - c.1890
Ref: SA1189908
An antique French Vernis Martin secretaire featuring a marble top, long cabriole legs, metal mounts, and a drop-front panel decorated with a hand-painted pastoral scene.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
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Archival Detail

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FAQs

Vernis Martin is a lacquer imitation technique developed in 18th-century France by the Martin brothers, designed to copy East Asian lacquerware using oil-based varnishes. The term later evolved to describe French furniture featuring hand-painted pastoral scenes beneath thick layers of clear varnish.

These pieces typically feature fine timber veneers such as rosewood or kingwood over a hardwood frame, topped with shaped marble slabs. Decorative elements include cast ormolu (gilt-bronze) mounts and lacquer-painted panels.

Authentic period pieces feature hand-painted artwork exhibiting natural craquelure within the varnish, hand-chased brass or ormolu mounts, and dovetailed drawer construction with original marble slabs tailored to the piece.

A decorative secretaire can serve as a focal statement piece in an entryway or formal living space, balanced by clean modern lighting, neutral walls, and contemporary abstract artwork to create visual contrast.

Dust lacquered panels softly using a dry microfiber cloth and avoid direct sunlight or heat sources to prevent cracking. Clean marble tops with pH-neutral solutions and wipe away moisture immediately to prevent staining.
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