19464
A Magnificent Cabinet by Joseph Cremer of Paris
A Magnificent Cabinet by Joseph Cremer of Paris
Dimensions: H: 46.5 in / 118 cm | W: 59 in / 160 cm | D: 24 in / 60.5 cm
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19464
Of breakfront form, constructed with Ebony, Tulipwood and various Fruitwoods, the whole being richly and profusely inlaid with pewter, cut brass, etched and stained ivory, tortoiseshell, tinted marquetry panels, and decorated with very finely cast, planished and gilt bronze mounts.
The frieze housing three long drawers, the central section having a drawer containing a writing slope with a tooled leather inset, and flanking, two small drawers to which access is concealed; below, the retractable central door dressed with a very fine marquetry panel depicting a ruined abbey, revealing five drawers when opened; the flanking doors housing shelved interiors, with marquetry panels, showing a bountiful display of flowers in urns to the reverses; and to the ends, doors with rich marquetry floral inlay revealing a miniscule shelved interior; below, the shaped apron has a pull out centre section which reveals an upholstered prieu-dieu, flanked by short drawers. Bearing the maker’s label to the reverse ‘Cremer/Fabrique de Marquetrie, Mosaique et Meubles de luxe’. Importantly, hidden in the construction of the central bank of drawers is a letter on Cremer’s notepaper, signed by Joseph Cremer, detailing his origins, the Exhibition, and the medal and reception the cabinet received; obviously intended to remain with the piece its’ whole life, as a permanent record of the importance Mr Cremer attached to the piece. Paris Circa 1848/9
Denise LeDoux-LeBard’s’Le Mobilier Français du X1Xe Siecle’ notes Joseph Cremer as being born of French parents in Luxembourg in 1811, of French parentage, and active in Paris between 1839 and 1878, when the business was given to his son Thomas. He is recorded as supplying in 1844 a cabinet to King Louis-Philippe for his Normandy summer residence, the Chateau d’Eu at a cost of 3500 francs. Louis Philippe’s second son, Louis d’Orleans purchased a Cremer cabinet with similarities to ours, which was sold in Sotheby’s in 1988. Cremer exhibited at the 1849 Paris exhibition, the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851, the 1855 Paris Exposition, at which the jurors commented ‘ In taste and design, he has acheived the impossible in balancing harmony with accuracy (of execution). He also exhibited at the 1862 London Exhibition.
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