Object Description
A superb French Empire mahogany and ormolu mounted pedestal cabinet, Circa 1870 in date.
The botanical name for the mahogany this pedestal is made of is Swietenia Macrophylla and this type of mahogany is not subject to CITES regulation.
The rectangular shaped pedestal is finished all round and features fine ormolu mounts in the form of ram’s heads, laurel wreaths and lyres with swans. The cabinet having a useful frieze drawer over a cupboard door that opens to reveal a shelved interior and the whole raised on shaped bun feet.
Add some elegance to your home with this lovely pedestal.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 89 x Width 42 x Depth 42
Dimensions in inches:
Height 2 foot, 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches
Empire style,
is an early-19th-century design movement in architecture, furniture, other decorative arts, and the visual arts followed in Europe and America until around 1830.
The style originated in and takes its name from the rule of Napoleon I in the First French Empire, where it was intended to idealize Napoleon’s leadership and the French state. The style corresponds to the Biedermeier style in the German-speaking lands, Federal style in the United States and to the Regency style in Britain. The previous style was called Louis XVI style, in France.
The Empire style was based on aspects of the Roman Empire. It is the second phase of neoclassicism which is also called “Directoire”, after a goverment system.
Furniture typically had symbols and ornaments borrowed from the glorious ancient Greek and Roman empires.
The furniture was made from heavy woods such as mahogany and ebony, imported from the colonies, with dark finishes often with decorative bronze mounts. Marble tops were popular as were Egyptian motifs like sphinxes, griffins, urns and eagles and the Napoleonic symbols, the eagle, the bee, the initials “I” and a large “N.”
Gilded bronze (ormolu) details displayed a high level of craftsmanship.
Our reference: A2687