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Antique French Oval Free Standing Vernis Martin Cabinet Vitrine 19th C

£4,250    $5,384    €5,128
This is a stunning and rare antique French Vernis Martin free standing display cabinet in the Louis XV manner, circa 1880 in date.
 
 
The cabinet has a rouge marble top with an ormolu pierced brass half gallery over an ormolu panelled frieze.
 
 
The cabinet is fully glazed all round and is fitted with a door on each side, and they enclose two glass and one velvet lined shelf.
 
 
The lower sections of the cabinet are all with fitted with decorative Vernis Martin panels depicting courting couples in gardens and the cabinet is raised on ormolu mounted toupie feet.
 
 
Complete with working locks and key.
 
 
Add an elegant touch to your home with this lovely free standing cabinet.
 
 
Condition:
 
In really excellent condition, please see photos for confirmation.
 
 
Dimensions in cm:
 
Height 145 x Width 73 x Depth 53
 
 
Dimensions in inches:
 
Height 4 foot, 9 inches x Width 2 foot, 5 inches x Depth 1 foot, 9 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-c...
Antique #SA974744, shown on this page, originates from the 19th century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
19th Century
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
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Regent Antiques
We specialise in English and Continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
Regent Antiques is also an antique trade association member of LAPADA CINOA
London
United Kingdom
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020 8802 3900
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