antique mahogany ormolu mounted bijouterie display cabinet 19th century

This is a beautiful antique French ormolu mountedmahoganybijouteriecabinet, circa 1880 in date.

The oval top has a bevelled glass insertover a convex glazed cupboard door which opens to a fitted interior with a single glazed shelf. The cabinet is freestanding, the sides are all glazed and it is raised on elegant tapered cabriole legs decorated with foliate ormolu cast mounts.Complete with working lock and key.
Condition:In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.Dimensions in cm:Height 102 x Width 55 x Depth 38Dimensions in inches:Height 3 foot, 4 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches
Our reference: 09160
Ormolu -(from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-caratgoldin amercuryamalgamto an object ofbronze.The mercury is driven off in akilnleaving behind a gold-coloured veneerknown as'gilt bronze'.The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding orfire-gilding, in which a solution ofnitrate of mercuryis applied to a piece ofcopper,brass, or bronze, followed by the application of anamalgamof gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead.Electroplatingis the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used onsilver, to producesilver-gilt..

Width (cm):

55

Height (cm):

102

Depth (cm):

38

Please note that this price may NOT include delivery charges which the seller may charge extra for.

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Regent Antiques Limited

We are one of the UK's premier furniture dealers and have been trading in London for three decades. We specialise in English and Continental furniture, silver, porcelain, and decorative items both antique and contemporary. We exhibit our collection in classy showrooms in our large warehouse very close to the centre of London.

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