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cabinet with two doors – Louis XVI era

Ebony veneer and Japanese lacquer cabinet with two doors, adorned with chiselled gilded bronze elements.
Stamped by Joseph Baumhauer (1772)
Yellow jasper top (semi-precious stone)

Provenance: Kraemer Gallery
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Meuble à deux portes époque louis XVI (1772). Estampille de Joseph Baumhauer
Meuble à deux portes. Estampille de Joseph Baumhauer

Joseph Baumhauer, also known as Joseph, was court cabinetmaker under the reign of Louis XV and was one of the King’s most trusted cabinetmakers. He would sign his works with the name Joseph (because his full name was difficult to pronounce) between two fleurs-de-lis, in reference to his privileged position.

This exceptional piece features classical elements, such as fluted, carved pillars and Ionic capitals. With its Japanese lacquered panels, it boasts a yellow jasper top. It was made with rare, expensive materials such as jasper and Japanese Kijimaki-e lacquered panels. The latter were made using a 17th-century technique from Japan. The wood is polished to let its texture shine; it is then decorated with landscapes, plants, or animals. Panels like these are extremely rare among French furniture antiques.