Napoleon III Liqueur And Cigar Cellar With Polychrome Marquetry Decoration, Circa 1860

Beautiful Neo-Louis XIII style Liqueur and Cigar Cabinet covered on its rectangular shape trimmed with wavy chevron moldings of an ebonized wood veneer on which stands out a marquetry decoration called "Genre Boulle" with inlays of tortoiseshell, blued horn, mother-of-pearl and re-engraved gilt brass. On the flat of the lid and the front flap of the Box, ornamental motifs of fleurons, bases, palmettes, volutes, interlacing of foliated and flowered acanthus, flowers encase Cartouches, one centered with the number "AL", the other with a flowered Vase. Mahogany interior with a fixed display of a Baccarat cut crystal liqueur service composed of four decanters and sixteen small matching faceted stemmed glasses enhanced with fine gold stripes. Nestled in the cavity of the Caisson, two side compartments form a Cigar Case. Rectangular base. With its key. Functional lock. Quality work of Parisian Tabletterie from the second half of the 19th century. Napoleon III period, circa 1860. A model for Gentleman Lovers of Liqueurs and Cigars: Trimmed around its perimeter with flattering moldings with wavy chevron patterns punctuated with gadroons, this generous and very beautiful Napoleon III Period Liqueur and Cigar Humidor is covered on its ample rectangular case with an ebonized wood veneer that is ennobled on the front and on the flat of its lid with a so-called "Boulle style" marquetry. Enlivened in its openwork by the glow of the tortoiseshell, the brilliance of the blued horn, a harmonious mesh of finely re-engraved gilded brass inlaid with motifs of fleurons, bases, palmettes, volutes, interlacing of foliated and flowered acanthus, florets studded with iridescent mother-of-pearl draws spandrels, frames and, in an elegant symmetry, unfolds, stretches around Cartouches. One, of scalloped shape, is centered by a flowered vase. The other, with more balanced lines, accommodates, within an oval medallion, the number in Gothic letters "AL" of its wise patron. Gilded brass threads set these ornamental compositions inlaid with refined chromaticism. Opened, the Box unmasks an interior dappled with mahogany burl. Equipped with a fixed compartmentalized display and honeycomb shelves riveted to its side walls, it serves as a receptacle for the Liqueur Service. Made of Baccarat cut crystal, it is composed of four quadrangular section decanters and faceted stoppers to which are matched sixteen small baluster-shaped stemmed glasses with flared rims with profiles enhanced with fine gold-painted strips. Judiciously arranged on the right and left sides of the box, two narrow cavities with sliding panels form a cigar case. Equipped with its key, our Liqueur and Cigar Cellar, marked by its formal sobriety, the luster of its materials playing on sumptuous elegance, the robustness of its crystalwork with this distinctive neo-Louis XIII touch which runs through the French decorative arts during the years 1860-1870, rests on a rectilinear base. A fine example of these opulent and ingenious furniture objects created in the second half of the 19th century by Parisian Cabinetmakers-Tablettiers for a high-flying male fringe and their proselytes fond of playful moments of gustatory idleness in the smoking room of their apartments or private mansions, this dual-function box will appeal to any man of taste or conquer a daring Georges Sand of our era. Materials: Ebonized wood and Cuban mahogany veneer; gilded brass, red and brown tortoiseshell, blued horn, mother-of-pearl; Cut and faceted Baccarat crystal with fine gold-painted highlights. Dimensions Closed cellar: H.: 25 cm; - W.: 34 cm; - D.: 25 cm Quality work of fine Parisian luxury tableware in the Louis XIII style from the second half of the 19th century. Napoleon III period, circa 1860 Perfect condition. French polish case. Complete crystal set. With its key and functional lock