A exceptionally fine and rare French bonheur du jour in kingwood with Vernis Martin painted panels, ormolu mounts throughout, and birdseye maple interior linings. A piece of this decorative quality and completeness is seldom encountered - the combination of superb kingwood veneers, richly painted Vernis Martin panels, and well-cast ormolu mounts places this firmly in the upper tier of nineteenth-century French cabinet-making.The upper superstructure is surmounted by a pierced gilt brass gallery above, with ormolu foliate rosette mounts applied to the upper corners. The central arched cupboard door is painted in the Vernis Martin manner - a pastoral scene depicting a young lady with her faithful dog beneath a tree, executed on the characteristic warm golden ground associated with the finest examples of this technique. The aged craquelure to the painted surface is consistent with genuine age and is a mark of authenticity rather than a detraction. The door opens to reveal a beautifull...