A FINE AND LARGE FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD AND TULIPWOOD BOMBE VITRINE

This large vitrine in the Louis XV style is reminiscent of the work of François Linke, however none of the mounts are specifically recorded in his oeuvre nor does the construction have the hall-marks of his workshop. Instead the mounts, construction and exaggerated bombé form are characteristic of the production of Maison Millet. The distinctive illustrated bust 'chutes' to the front corners also appear on a large vitrine shown by Millet at the Paris salon of 1905.

Established by Blaise Millet in 1853, the Maison Millet operated until 1902 from premises at 11, rue Jacques-Coeur, Paris, before relocating to 23, boulevard Beaumarchais. Maison Millet was expanded under the direction of Blaise's son Théodore, receiving a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle, a Grand Prix in 1900 and three further diplomes d'honneur and four médailles d'or. Specialising in 'meubles et bronzes d'art, genre ancien et moderne' with the accent on Louis XV and XVI antecedents, in 1902 Maison Millet was authorised by the director of the Palais de Versailles to replicate Marie-Antoinette's celebrated Grand cabinet à bijoux. An auction of the firm's inventory was held in 1906 and they finally ceased trading in 1918.