Object Description
A fine quality late 19th century French Louis XV style break fronted side cabinet. Having its original Brèche Violette marble top, glazed doors on either side, opening to reveal shelves within. The central door having this wonderful japanned lacquer panel depicting a classical oriental scene of pagoda building, fisherman and merchants. Gilded ormolu mounts and moldings, with a Lion mask to the center, raised on wonderful gilded ormolu turned tapering, fluted feet.
Makers stamp to reverse of Lion mount; Beurdeley
Alfred-Emmanuel;
In 1875, Alfred-Emmanuel Beurdeley (1847-1919) was at first assistant to and later succeeded his father Louis-Auguste Beurdeley, one of the main cabinet-makers of the Second Empire, specialising in XVIIIth century furniture. Louis-Auguste was the star whenever he exhibited and was “most favored by the royal and imperial families”. Although he produced the same kind of works of art as his father, Alfred Beurdeley was also a very well-known art collector and a skilled bronze sculptor. With Dasson, Grohé, Sauvresy and Fourdinois, the most famous artists of the period, he took part in the 1878 Universal Exhibition and won the gold medal. Crowned with glory he went so far as to open a shop in New York. His participation in the 1883 Amsterdam Universal Exhibition drew considerable attention to his work and “Alfred Beurdeley, Fabricant de bronzes d’art” was then awarded the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, France’s hightest official mark of recognition. He thus won the respect of both the government and contemporary art critics. His last presentation was during the 1889 Universal and International Exhibition, when the director of the Exhibition wrote in his report : “The talent of Mr Beurdeley is self evident when one inspects his furniture.”
Batch 57 53501 DTSKZZ