Beschreibung:

A MAGNIFICENT LOUIS XIV GILT-BRONZE AND PIETRA DURA-MOUNTED BROWN TORTOISESHELL, ASH, EBONISED AND PARCEL-GILT CABINET-ON-STAND
ATTRIBUTED TO DOMENICO CUCCI AND THE GOBELINS WORKSHOP, CIRCA 1665-1675
A MAGNIFICENT LOUIS XIV GILT-BRONZE AND PIETRA DURA-MOUNTED BROWN TORTOISESHELL, ASH, EBONISED AND PARCEL-GILT CABINET-ON-STAND ATTRIBUTED TO DOMENICO CUCCI AND THE GOBELINS WORKSHOP, CIRCA 1665-1675 The canted, panelled balustrade mounted with repoussé acanthus scrolls and cabochons, the breakfront plinths surmounted by drapery-swagged putti, the central architectural niche with a classically draped male, the whole surmounted by Minerva enthroned amongst a trophy of arms, the canted rectangular cabinet section with volute-supported breakfront frieze support by six campan melangé marble columns with composite capitals joined by swagged garlands, the columns flanking twelve drawers each with elaborate grotesque mask and foliate arabesque trails dividing laurel-framed pietra dura plaques depicting, respectively, a wolf, a sheep, a cat, a dog, a rhinoceros, a camel, a leopard, a rearing horse, a stag, a goat, a unicorn and a boar, all flanking a central architectural door with a plaque of Orpheus playing his violin, and an arched panel with playful monkeys, framed to each side by helmeted herms and surmounted by a satyr bracket supporting an eagle holding a late 18th century silver and lapis lazuli oval medallion in its beak inscribed 'Detta Shap Har Warit Konung Carl den X d e s Ar Shänkt af des Gemal Drotning Hedvig Eleonora Til R.R. Gref Carl Gyllenstierna Genom arf Filfallit R. R. /och Fältmarskalken Axel Fersen' [This cabinet belonged to King Charles X Gustav of Sweden, was given by his wife Queen Hedvig Eleonora to R.R. (knight) Count Carl Gyllenstierna, and by descent to R.R. (knight) and field marshal Axel Fersen], the lapis lazuli medallion to the reverse etched with Mercury's caduceus, cornucopiae and laurel, the plinth section of the cabinet with five further pietra dura panels depicting an elephant, a lion, tupping rams, a bear and an ox, opening as two drawers; the door opening to reveal a fitted architectural and mirrored interior, the reverse of the door inlaid in pewter, green-stained ivory, palisander and ebony with Orpheus and his lyre, the arcaded columns opening to reveal three Hungarian ash oak-lined secret drawers, flanked by two secret document wells, the sides with recessed tortoiseshell rectangular panels applied with raised shaped foliate arabesque and ash cartouche panels with central panel of veined liver marble; the stand with tortoiseshell and ebony frieze mounted with further oval marble specimen panels in verde antico, breccia and veined liver marble, flanked by repoussé berried fruiting garlands, supported upon six male and female carved giltwood and bronzed caryatid figures, the outer caryatids in imbricated suits of armour, and supporting capitals of plumed feathers, the central caryatids classically draped and emblematic of the Four Seasons, supporting baskets with fruiting vines for Autumn, wheat for Summer, flowers for Spring and flames for Winter, on a pierced and shaped stretcher with repoussé foliate border, on six lion feet, raised on replaced ebonised blocks, the back supports of the stand with traces of previous additional supporting pilasters and drilled for fixing to wall, inscribed in chalk to underside ' 10/1277 2 ', one drawer (with 'boar' plaque) signed and dated in ink ' Reparerat 1787 af Joh. Christ.n Linning Kong Hof Schatull= makaren ok Hof-Snickaren ' [Repaired in 1787 by Joh. Christn. Linning, Royal court cabinet-maker] 17½ in. (248 cm.) high; 60½ in (154 cm.) wide; 26 in. (66 cm.) deep [the cabinet], 30½ in. (78 cm.) deep [the stand with lion-carved feet