Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th C

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Ref: A2184a

Price: £3,950.00

This is a stunning antique French louis XV Revival Vernis Martin display cabinet, circa 1880 in date. The cabinet feature a...

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This is a stunning antique French louis XV Revival Vernis Martin display cabinet, circa 1880 in date.

The cabinet feature a shaped top with impressive ornate ormolu mounts, the body is serpentine shaped with a glazed ormolu mounted door that features a fantastic Vernis Martin hand painted panel of a courting couple, with the two side panels depicting country scenes.

The interior is lined with the rich original pink fabric which beautifully complements the cabinet.

Complete with original working lock and key.

It is very rare to find such an exquisite cabinet and it is sure to attract a lot of attention from your guests.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 170 cm x Width 85 cm x Depth 43 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 5 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches

Our reference: A2184a

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 170 cm x Width 85 cm x Depth 43 cm

Dimensions in inches:

Height 5 foot, 7 inches x Width 2 foot, 9 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 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, and we are not responsible for any delays in shipping or in the customs procedures of any jurisdiction, which are completely beyond our control.

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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.

Please be advised that claims for damage with certain carriers can sometimes take several months to resolve, and we would be grateful for your patience and cooperation throughout the process.

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

Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Shipping:

Delivery and return policy:

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Antique French Vernis Martin Vitrine Display Cabinet 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Dimensions in cm:

Dimensions in inches:

Shipping:

Delivery and return policy:

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