Very fine ormolu mounted mahogany cabinet by Grohé Frères

This exceptional cabinet was crafted in France around 1860 by the renowned firm of Grohé Frères (1827-1884). Made from mahogany and ormolu, this furniture piece is demonstrative of some of the best 19th century cabinetmaking.

The cabinet is surmounted by a beautifully veined, cream, orange, and red marble top. Below is an ormolu frieze, cast in the bead and reel motif, surrounding three of the four sides of the cabinet. Three drawers are expertly crafted below the frieze. The central drawer is adorned with ormolu crossed thyrsus among grape vines escutcheon, while the two flanking drawers are mounted with laurel wreathes escutcheons.

The central door is framed in two ormolu borders, one in the form of a beading motif, inside of which are further ormolu mounts. The panel is topped with a rich foliate garland mount above a flower-filled urn, adorned with trumpets and laurel leaves. The two flanking doors are decorated in a similar manner to the central door with two ormolu frames. Both are of an identical design, with ribbon-tied mounts, full of floral motifs, from which musical instruments, foliage and even a hat appear. The four corners on all three doors are occupied with raised mahogany mounts, adorned with ormolu details. All drawers and cabinets are lockable and when opened, each compartment encloses two, spacious shelves.

The side panels of the cabinet are beautifully decorated with similar ormolu mounts as the front. The front two edges of the piece include exceptionally well-cast, very ornate ormolu mounts, of a similar design to the cabinet doors, ensuring a cohesive design throughout the piece. Various musical, natural and symbolic motifs are depicted.

The cabinet stands on two acanthus wrapped bun feet and two rectangualr mahogany feet. The piece is stamped ‘GROHÉ A PARIS'.

The firm of Grohé Frères was established in 1827 by two brothers, Guillaume and Jean-Michel Grohé. They were renowned French cabinetmakers, exhibiting their works at major international exhibitions and were the official suppliers of furniture to the French Royalty such as Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie as well as Queen Victoria. Jean- Michele retired in 1881, and Guillaume continued to run the company alone until his death in 1884.  

This cabinet can be displayed individually, but would also make a superb arrangement as a set together with this pair of side cabinets, as photographed above.