19th-century Liqueur Glass, Napoleon III

An elegant Napoleon III-style liqueur cabinet, crafted from rosewood and Sèvres porcelain panels, embellished with beautiful gilded bronze accents. It features a veneer design arranged to play on the geometric contrast of the wood grain, in a herringbone or mirror-like pattern. The top lid flips upward and backward, while the two side doors open sideways to 180 degrees. The interior panels of the doors are fitted with small, contoured wooden shelves arranged on two levels and small gilded bronze hooks, specifically designed to hold and secure the small glasses. On the inside of the lid and on its upper surface, two large medallions made of painted Sèvres porcelain stand out; one depicts a cherub surrounded by clouds, and the other a pair of cherubs playing musical instruments, also surrounded by clouds. Both medallions are framed by a rich gilded bronze border, finely worked with beading and geometric motifs. Below the front medallion is the keyhole, also made of gilded bronze and fully engraved. In addition to being embellished with a small, intricately worked gilded bronze frame, the entire box is supported at the top of the lid by four small corner feet in gilded bronze, chiseled with scrollwork and foliage motifs in the “rocaille” style. Inside is a lavish, matching tasting set, characterized by its transparency and rich gilding. At the center of the cabinet are four square-based crystal decanters; the sides and necks of the bottles are decorated with geometric and floral motifs in pure gold, and the tops feature a faceted shape also outlined in gold. The set includes sixteen small stemmed glasses with square bases. The body of the glass is entirely adorned with a central band of gilded festoons and a top rim in pure gold, which exactly mirrors the decorative motif of the four decanters. This type of object symbolizes the prosperity and conviviality of the 19th-century European bourgeoisie. We would like to note that there are two chips but no breaks on two of the decanter carafes and that one small glass has been glued, though this in no way detracts from the fact that it remains a piece of fine antiques of great taste and elegance. Finally, we would like to highlight that, based on careful research we have conducted, the two plaques were decorated by Etienne-Charles Le Guay, who was active from “1778 to 1785 and subsequently until 1840”—a renowned painter of figures, historical scenes, allegories, and fine portraits, as one of the two plaques is marked with the letters “LG” in cursive and gold, though somewhat faded “due to the passage of time.” In Sèvres pieces, his “LG” mark often appears associated with royal services of immense value.

N.B. All bottles and glasses are identical

PERIOD Napoleon III ( 1848 - 1870 )

DIMENSIONS L. 32 cm x D. 23.5 cm x H. 25 cm

CONDITION Excellent condition with a restored box