Pair of ebonised wood, hardstone and ormolu pedestal cabinets

The pedestals are crafted from ebonised wood. Their edges are articulated by inlaid brass and they are decorated with ormolu (gilt bronze) mounts and pietra dura ('hard stone') panels.

The pedestals are of matching design. They feature rectangular bodies which are set on square bases, on bracket feet. The bases are mounted with ormolu egg-and-dart bands, stylised acanthus leaves, scrollwork and shell motifs. The front of each pedestal body serves as a door which opens to reveal three shelves. These doors are inlaid with a variety of hardstones to depict trails of fruits and flowers which are perched on by birds. These decorations are contained within ormolu egg-and-dart and beaded frames. Ormolu guilloche-patterned bands line the tops of the pedestal bodies and their shoulders are mounted with ormolu satyr head masks and flower trails. The pedestals are topped by bombé friezes which are decorated with ormolu central stylised foliate motifs, flanked by ormolu acanthus leaves. The pedestal tops are covered with white marble and edged with ormolu egg-and-dart bands.