Antique French Transitional Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet C1880

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Ref: A1582

Price: £5,250.00

This is a stunning antique French Vernis Martin vitrine, in the Louis XV transitional manner, Circa 1880 in date, with...

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This is a stunning antique French Vernis Martin vitrine, in the Louis XV transitional manner, Circa 1880 in date, with exquisite hand painted decoration and exquisite ormolu mounts.

The top has serpentine glass sides with a central bow glazed door and two glass shelves. The lower door has a beautiful hand painted panel, the painting depicting a courting couple in a garden, and it opens to reveal a capacious cupboard. The side panels have stunning paintings of countryside scenes. We have relined the interior in a stunning golden velvet.

It is raised on elegant outswept ormolu mounted legs, and is complete with working locks and keys.

This magnificent piece is in excellent condition and the quality and attention to detail throughout is second to none.

Add a touch of unparalleled style to your home.

Condition:

In excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 187 x Width 79 x Depth 41

Dimensions in inches:

Height 6 foot, 2 inches x Width 2 foot, 7 inches x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches

Our reference: A1582

Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse.

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.

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Dimensions in cm:

Height 187 x Width 79 x Depth 41

Dimensions in inches:

Height 6 foot, 2 inches x Width 2 foot, 7 inches x Depth 1 foot, 4 inches

Shipping:

We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge.

A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase.

UK shipping times are typically 3-5 business days.

Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom.

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Delivery and return policy:

We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply.

In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item.

The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition.

Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses.

Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the United Kingdom.

Returns will be processed within 2-3 business days of receipt.

Antique French Transitional Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet C1880

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Shipping:

Delivery and return policy:

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Antique French Transitional Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet C1880

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Shipping:

Delivery and return policy:

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