Antique 1880 Louis XV Display Cabinet, style of F. Linke

Spectacular Louis XV Display Cabinet. Attributed to Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener. France, Paris, circa 1880–1890. An exquisite late 19th-century Louis XV–style vitrine, crafted in solid oak and veneered in luxurious exotic kingwood (Bois de Rose). Adorned with finely cast and gilded bronze (ormolu) mounts in the Rococo revival style, echoing the opulent designs of renowned Parisian ébénistes such as François Linke and Paul Sormani. While unsigned, the cabinet is strongly reminiscent of the work of Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, a celebrated cabinetmaker known for his collaboration with bronziers and the rich Rococo detailing seen here. The original lock bears the mark P. Kaul, a Parisian locksmith active in the late 19th century, whose atelier was located on the Rue du Faubourg street known for housing premier cabinetmakers of the time. Dimensions: 190 X 108 X 47 cm. The same model was sold at Christie’s in 2010 for £15, 000 (equivalent €17, 500 / $23, 500 at the time). Another, larger double-door version of this same model cabinet attributed to Zwiener was sold in 2014 by Butchoff Antiques for an undisclosed price. Condition: Very good antique condition with minor wear, small veneer repairs, lacks marble top, larger chip to one glass shelf, rubbing to ormolu. A superb example of the unmatched craftsmanship of the Belle Époque—the peak of European material culture—originating from its very epicenter in magnificent Paris.