Large antique French ormolu and Vernis Martin vitrine cabinet

The grand and imposing vitrine is beautifully constructed from the finest materials and is formed in three sections.

The upper section is surmounted by a curved pediment which is mounted around the edges with ormolu and features central ormolu decorations of foliage and acanthus leaves. Below the pediment, the bombé shaped case, with slightly protruding central panel, features two upper bands of ormolu, above three glass windows. Each glass window is bordered with acanthus leaf ormolu mounts, all set into doors which open to access two interior glass display shelves. The outer two windows are curved to mirror the bombé shape.

The middle section features an open display surface, with three mirrored panels set to the back. The mirrors are separated by curved wooden supports, with floral ormolu mounts, and are fronted by two curved columns which support the upper section, similarly mounted with ormolu.

The lower section features an upper frieze of diamond parquetry mounted with ormolu in sections. To the centre is a drawer, decorated with acanthus leaf form ormolu mounts to the keyhole. Below the drawer is a cupboard, which is decorated to the centre with a large and highly detailed Vernis Martin panel depicting a mythological scene, with ormolu border. The Vernis Martin panel sits directly above an exquisitely detailed ormolu mount of a relief vase with flowers, garlands and arabesques. The cupboard is flanked on either side by open space which is decorated with ormolu swathes of cloth to the back. The entire vitrine is set on four ormolu mounted cabriole legs, terminating in ormolu paw feet. One of the mounts to the leg bears the signature 'F. Linke'.