An Extremely Fine Quality Ormolu-Mounted Burr-Amboyna and Mahogany Vitrine-On-Stand attrib. Alfred-Emmanuel Beurdeley

Surmounted by a stepped pediment above a paneled frieze and two glazed doors with stiff-leaf frames and paterae, the red velvet lined interior with two adjustable shelves, the base with a pierced flower-filled frame fronted by a long drawer centered by a cartouche attended by a pair of winged putti amidst berried laurel, on two fluted tapering legs to the front and paneled back above a brocatelle jaune de Jura platform, on toupie feet

Date: late 19th century
Origin: French
Dimension: (H) 74 1/4 in x (W) 35 1/4 in x (D) 19 in.

Biography In 1875, Alfred-Emmanuel Beurdeley (1847-1919) was at first assistant to and later succeeded his father Louis-Auguste Beurdeley, one of the main cabinet-makers of the Second Empire, specialising in XVIIIth century furniture. Louis-Auguste was the star whenever he exhibited and was “most favored by the royal and imperial families”.

Although he produced the same kind of works of art as his father, Alfred Beurdeley was also a very well-known art collector and a skilled bronze sculptor. With Dasson, Grohé, Sauvresy and Fourdinois, the most famous artists of the period, he took part in the 1878 Universal Exhibition and won the gold medal. Crowned with glory he went so far as to open a shop in New York. His participation in the 1883 Amsterdam Universal Exhibition drew considerable attention to his work and “Alfred Beurdeley, Fabricant de bronzes d’art” was then awarded the Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur, France’s hightest official mark of recognition. He thus won the respect of both the government and contemporary art critics. His last presentation was during the 1889 Universal and International Exhibition, when the director of the Exhibition wrote in his report : “The talent of Mr Beurdeley is self evident when one inspects his furniture.”