Japonisme beechwood and ormolu vitrine cabinet after Viardot

The cabinet was crafted in the late 19th Century in the style of Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). Viardot was a famous French cabinetmaker, who specialised in the production of Chinese and Japanese style furniture.

This cabinet stands on four scrolled feet, the front two of which are mounted with omolu paws. The space between the feet is occupied by an apron, which is pierced with scrolling forms and set with an ormolu dragon model.

Above, the body of the cabinet is divided roughly into four parts by vertical partitions, and split in half horizontally.

The lower right compartment consists of four shelves — one lower, two rectangular with shaped edges, and one half-length, which curls up at the end. These shelves are open on two sides, and are positioned behind carved arches. The spandrels of the front arch are mounted with two ormolu cranes. The lower left section is split into three. It features three, vertical shelves, topped by a smaller, horizontal shelf, surmounted by a drawer, which is faced with marble and fitted with an ormolu handle.

Above, the top right part of the cabinet is comprised of a marble-faced drawer, which is topped by a curved shelf. This features a gallery, which is pierced with a vermiculated design and mounted with a small ormolu dragon. This shelf is surmounted by a canopy, which is supported on two posts and fringed with shaped and pierced forms. The top left side features three shelves, contained behind a bevelled glass door. The interior is lined with red velvet, and the door frame mounted with ormolu cranes and dragons.

The top section of the cabinet is surmounted by a roof, which curves upwards at its ends. This is topped by a small, post-and-lintel structure, with a scrolled roof and pierced, geometric parapet. This structure is flanked by an ormolu crane, on the left, and a komainu (Japanese mythological lion-dog) on the right.