French late 19th century sino-japanese style hardwood bedroom suite by Gabriel Viardot, Paris

French late 19th century sino-japanese style patinated bronze mounted, mother of pearl and ivory inlaid stained hardwood bedroom suite by Gabriel Viardot, Paris. photo Bonhams

comprising a bed, a wardrobe and a small side cabinet, the armoire surmounted by a pagoda shaped cornice from which emerges a dragon, above a pair of doors, one with mirrored panel, the other decorated with a panel depicting figures and birds with blossom branches, above two short drawers inlaid with flowers, on small scroll feet, the bed and side cabinet with similar arched pediment with dragon and inlaid decoration, the bed: 202cm wide, 210cm deep, 154cm high (79.5" wide, 82.5" deep, 60.5" high); the wardrobe: 142cm wide, 52cm deep, 242cm high (55.5" wide, 20" deep, 95" high); the side cabinet: 47.5cm wide, 35cm deep, 122cm high (18.5" wide, 13.5" deep, 48" high). (3) Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000

Note: Gabriel Viardot succeeded to his father's business in 1861. The workshop was originally located at 36 rue Rambuteau in Paris, moving locations on several occasions, but finally settling at 36 rue Amelot. His career began as a wood carver and he produced small furniture carved with naturalistic motifs and animals. Around 1870 he turned to the idea of producing furniture in the style designated as "sino-japonais", associating chinese and Japanese inspiration. The taste in Europe for such pieces was well established and at the 1878 Exposition Universelle in Paris he was awarded a silver medal. He later received a gold medal in the 1889 Exposition.

A large wardrobe, of similar shape with mother of pearl inlaid decoration and surmounted by an almost identical dragon can be seen in the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris.

Literature: Camille Mestdagh, L'ameublement d'art français (1850-1900), 2010.
Denise Ledoux-Lebard, Le mobilier français du XIXe siècle, 1984.

A French late 19th century ormolu-mounted hardwood plant stand by Gabriel Viardot, Paris

the circular top above a pierced frieze, on four scroll legs, each surmounted by an Orientalist bronze mount, joined by a pierced under-tier, signed to the underside G.Viardot, on paw and ball feet, 47cm in diameter, 50cm high (18.5" in diameter, 19.5" high). Estimate: £1,000 - 2,000

Bonhams. Fine Continental Furniture, Sculpture and Works of Art, 7 Jul 2010. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com