Object Description
A superb Louis Revival French Walnut Kingwood and Vernis Martin, ormolu mounted freestanding jardiniere / pedestal, Circa 1880 in date.
The jardiniere features a decorative purple veined white variegated marble top over a bombé body with a door beautifully decorated with a Vernis Martin panel painted with an amorous couple, with landscape painted panels to the other three sides.
It is raised on cabriole legs united by a lower tier, with gilded ormolu mounts throughout.
Add a touch of French sophistication with this lovely jardiniere.
Complete with the original working lock and key.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 123 x Width 35 x Depth 35
Dimensions in inches:
Height 4 foot x Width 1 foot, 2 inches x Depth 1 foot, 2 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.
Our reference: A3306