Object Description
An early Victorian porcelain and ormolu mounted rosewood and tulipwood jewellery coffer on stand or coffre a bijoux attributed to Johann Martin Levien (1811-1871)
Circa 1845, an identical model forms part of the Royal Collection
The quarter veneered box superstructure mounted with five oval Sevres style porcelain plaques painted with a trio of putti and four pairs of putti, variously allegorical of viniculture, geography, astronomy, literature, music and fire making, each plaque set within a shaped C- and S-scroll, floral, foliate and rocaille panel mount, the superstructure comprised of a hinged top enclosing a velvet lined interior, above a cavetto leaf mounted panelled frieze, with canted floral clasped angles, over a re-entrant panel mounted hinged fall front enclosing two pigeon holes, two short mahogany lined tulipwood veneered drawers and one shelf, on a stand with a shaped apron mounted with four oval Sevres style painted porcelain plaques, each within a ribbon tied entwined twin oak leaf branch and oak leaf wreath mount, on keeled cabriole legs each headed by a floral swagged, paterae embedded scrolled corbel, beaded and acanthus clasped mount, with guilloche cast chutes terminating in scrolled foliate sabots, approximately: 54cm wide x 49cm deep x 110cm high, (21in wide x 19in deep x 43in high)
An identical model of jewellery cabinet on stand (referred to as a coffre a bijoux in French), which is dated 1846 and is also, as with the present lot, attributed to Johann Martin Levien, forms part of the Royal collection, see www.rct.uk, RCIN 169
Batch 77 HNKZZ