A very fine and unusually carved and mother-of-pearl inlaid parade-cabinet by Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906), signed and dated "G:VIARDOT PARIS 1884". photo Nagel Auctions

Corpus ade of various exotic woods such as mahogany, maple, etc., with magnificent carving as high- and low-relief on all sides. A two-storey corpus with two doors lying above each other. Front legs carved as paws and dragon heads, the rearside standing on square baluster pedestals. Accentuated and richly ornamented frieze molding structured by volutes. Pagoda-shaped and multiple moulded top. Accentuated pilaster strips with scroll ornament and gnarled ornaments flanking the two front doors. The side panels with borders depict scroll ornaments with roses, peonies, morning glory flowers, etc. Front doors structured by circles, arc segments and winding dragons. The encircled mother-of-pearl inlaid panels depict the Shou symbol of long life, scenes with horsemen, scroll ornaments, flowers, animals, boats, antiques and valuables. Indented brass locks with original keys. Upper door signed and dated with a marking stamp on the narrow side. Interior with later glass shelves.

This parade-cabinet was most likely presented to the visitors of the the World Fair in Antwerp in 1885. Since Viardot is listed in the catalogue and mentioned as a member of the jury the 8th exhibition called Expositions de lUnion centrale des arts décoratif from 1884 in Paris, it cannot be excluded that this parade-cabinet dating 1884 was manufactured for the Parisian exhibition in the same year

Provenance: Property from an old German private collection

Gabriel Viardot was famous for the fine quality and refinement of his pieces. His creations were sophisticated interpretations of Far Eastern symbols, models and animals, borrowed i.e. from the Chinese iconography and adapted to European 19th century taste, creating a taste for visions of fantasy, which was very en vogue at that time. Viardot regularly presented his furniture to the public at European World Fairs and provided his work to mainly a clientele of amateurs, aestetes and collectors from artistic circles (Claude Monet, Claude Debussy), the world of finance and high administration. He provided the famous Parisian store LEscalier de Crystal with furniture and he also designed a famous desk in a U shape for the President of the French Republic, Georges Clemenceau, which was presented to him by the famous oriental art collector, Clémence dHennery.

The parade-cabinet offered in this sale is a good example for what Viardot thought of a prestigious "meuble de salon". Further pieces of furniture by Viardot are in the Collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the Musée des Arts Décorative in Paris and the Musée dOrsay in Paris

Reference literature: Exposition universelle dAnvers 1885. Catalogue officiel de la Section Industrielle et Commerciale de la République Française, Paris 1885.

Denise Ledoux-Lebard: Le mobilier français du XIXe siècle : 1795 - 1889. Dictionnaire des ébénistes et des menuisiers, Paris 1989.

Camille Mestagh, L'ameublement dart francais 1850 - 1900, Paris 2010

Small damages to the carved and inlaid wooden corpus, very minor losses of the mother-of-pearl inlays. Beautiful and authentic condition, which emphasizes the importance and appreciation of this furniture ever since its original production. 260x164x65 cm. Estimate 60 000 / 80 000 €

Nagel Auctions. Asian Art. November 3rd 2011. www.auction.de