Search 0
3,651  PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 0 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS
Sorted by
Per page
DEALER LOGIN
Selling Antiques Logo
0
Saved
LATEST STOCK
Home
Return
Dealer Login
500+ Shops
Dealers
Newly Added
0
Saved
Sort Order
Items Per Page
sellingantiques.co.uk
Browse Categories
Sort order
Relevant Links
Items per page
ID #SA945031
FOR SALE
£8,750
Email
Save
Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C
Regent Antiques
for sale €10,238     $11,113
£8,750
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016
Browse dealers 638 items
  • About Us
    We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
  • Trade Associations
    Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA
Relevant Links
Id #SA945031
PDF SHARE
SAVE

Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

19th century
For Sale by Regent Antiques
Description

A stunning large antique French king wood Vernis Martin five panel display cabinet in the Louis XV manner and of extravagantly shaped Bombe form, circa 1870 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu mounts.

It has five decorative Vernis Martin panels with beautiful hand painted decoration, the central panel depicting a courting couple and the others with classical figures in pastoral country scenes. The central panel bears the artists signature, Le Brun.

The large central clear serpentine glazed door opening to a large capacious cupboard below, flanked by clear glazed serpentine panels, with further shaped glass on the sides.

It is smothered in gorgeous gilded ormolu mounts, the shaped apron with foliate mounts and sabots, standing on cabriole legs. The mirror backed interior is fitted with glass shelves, the lower shelf lined with golden velvet, to display your collection of china or silver beautifully.

This magnificent piece is in excellent condition and the quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none.

Add a touch of unparalleled style to your home.

Condition:

In really excellent original condition having only been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 193 x Width 115 x Depth 50

Dimensions in inches:

Height 6 foot, 4 inches x Width 3 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Vernis Martin

is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans, snuffboxes and clocks. The process of adding bronze or gold powder to green varnish was perfected by the French brothers Guillaume and Etienne-Simon Martin, hence its name “Vernis Martin”, as Vernis is French for varnish. It is said to have been made by heating oil, copal and amber and then adding Venetian turpentine and the Martin brothers perfected the process with inclusions in the varnish, sprinkling spangles of silver plated copper wire into the wet varnish ground. Highly praised by Voltaire, it was developed to imitate East Asian lacquerware which was being imported into France during the Louis XV period. Vernis Martin was made in several colours, green, black and a golden red being the most characteristic.

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

Our reference: A2932

Physical Dimensions
Height
193cm (75.98")
Width
115cm (45.28")
Depth
50cm (19.69")
Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this Vernis Martin Display Cabinet to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA945031
Dealers Internal Reference
A2932
Description
A stunning large antique French king wood Vernis Martin five panel display cabinet in the Louis XV manner and of extravagantly shaped Bombe form, circa 1870 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu mounts.
“
It has five decorative Vernis Martin panels with beautiful hand painted decoration, the central panel depicting a courting couple and the others with classical figures in pastoral country scenes.
Regent Antiques

The central panel bears the artists signature, Le Brun.

fig 1. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
fig 1. Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

The large central clear serpentine glazed door opening to a large capacious cupboard below, flanked by clear glazed serpentine panels, with further shaped glass on the sides.

It is smothered in gorgeous gilded ormolu mounts, the shaped apron with foliate mounts and sabots, standing on cabriole legs. The mirror backed interior is fitted with glass shelves, the lower shelf lined with golden velvet, to display your collection of china or silver beautifully.

fig 2. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
fig 2. Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

This magnificent piece is in excellent condition and the quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none.

Add a touch of unparalleled style to your home.

Condition:

In really excellent original condition having only been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
fig 3. Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 193 x Width 115 x Depth 50

Dimensions in inches:

Height 6 foot, 4 inches x Width 3 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Vernis Martin

is a lustrous lacquer substitute widely used in the 18th century to decorate furniture and such personal articles as brisé fans, snuffboxes and clocks. The process of adding bronze or gold powder to green varnish was perfected by the French brothers Guillaume and Etienne-Simon Martin, hence its name “Vernis Martin”, as Vernis is French for varnish. It is said to have been made by heating oil, copal and amber and then adding Venetian turpentine and the Martin brothers perfected the process with inclusions in the varnish, sprinkling spangles of silver plated copper wire into the wet varnish ground. Highly praised by Voltaire, it was developed to imitate East Asian lacquerware which was being imported into France during the Louis XV period. Vernis Martin was made in several colours, green, black and a golden red being the most characteristic.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
fig 4. Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
fig 5. Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

Our reference: A2932

Height
193cm (75.98")
Width
115cm (45.28")
Depth
50cm (19.69")
Date of Manufacture

Regent Antiques has dated this Vernis Martin Display Cabinet to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA945031
Dealers Internal Ref
A2932
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Sep 2016

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Regent Antiques Profile Page

Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA  CINOA

PDF SHARE
SAVE
A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
1 / 29
Archive I A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.

Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C

Archive II A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View II
Archive III A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View III
Archive IV A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View IV
Archive V A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View V
Archive VI A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View VI
Archive VII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View VII
Archive VIII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View VIII
Archive IX A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View IX
Archive X A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View X
Archive XI A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XI
Archive XII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XII
Archive XIII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XIII
Archive XIV A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XIV
Archive XV A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XV
Archive XVI A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XVI
Archive XVII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XVII
Archive XVIII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XVIII
Archive XIX A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XIX
Archive XX A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XX
Archive XXI A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXI
Archive XXII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXII
Archive XXIII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXIII
Archive XXIV A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXIV
Archive XXV A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXV
Archive XXVI A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXVI
Archive XXVII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXVII
Archive XXVIII A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXVIII
Archive XXIX A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts. View XXIX
FURTHER BROWSING

Visitors also looked at these ⇣

Enlarged Archival View
Regent Antiques

Regent Antiques
Telephone 020 8809 9605 or 020 8802 3900
Location
Manor Warehouse
318 Green Lanes
London
N4 1BX
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
Items For Sale 638
Items Sold 2,643
Regent Antiques
Regent Antiques
Verified Since Sep 2016
View Dealer Info
Location: Manor Warehouse, 318 Green Lanes, London, N4 1BX, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/regentantiques
Verified
Sep 2016
For Sale
638
Sold
2,643
A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
Antique Large Vernis Martin Bombe' Display Cabinet 19th C
Ref: SA945031
A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombee vitrine cabinet featuring curved glass panels, hand-painted Vernis Martin lower sections, and ornate gilt bronze mounts.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Detail View 9
Detail View 10
Detail View 11
Detail View 12
Detail View 13
Detail View 14
Detail View 15
Detail View 16
Detail View 17
Detail View 18
Detail View 19
Detail View 20
Detail View 21
Detail View 22
Detail View 23
Detail View 24
Detail View 25
Detail View 26
Detail View 27
Detail View 28
Archival Detail

Strictly Vetted Dealers

Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

FAQs

Vernis Martin refers to a specialized Japanese-style lacquer technique developed in the eighteenth century by the French Martin brothers. It involves applying multiple layers of shellac varnish to wooden surfaces, often embellished with hand-painted pastoral scenes or gilded detail in the Rococo taste.

Vitrines from this era commonly feature exotic timber veneers such as kingwood, rosewood, or walnut, supported by an oak frame. Decorative features include gilt-bronze (ormolu) mounts, hand-curved glass panels, and velvet or silk lining inside the display area.

Authentic nineteenth-century pieces display hand-cast and chased ormolu fittings, period dovetail joinery, natural irregularities in hand-blown curved glass, and genuine hand-painted Vernis Martin lacquer panels rather than modern printed transfers.

A glazed vitrine serves as an architectural statement piece in contemporary spaces. Positioned in a formal dining room, wide hallway, or reception space, it offers functional storage for glass collections while creating visual contrast alongside clean-lined modern furnishings.

Maintain painted lacquer cabinets by keeping them away from direct sunlight and artificial heat sources to prevent cracking or fading. Ormolu mounts should be dusted with a soft microfibre cloth without harsh chemical cleaners that could strip original gilding.
items
Add keywords to the filter
Price
£100
£250000
Era
Movements
Material
Origin
Stock Location
Freshness
Online Payments
Categories