Bellifontain cabinet attributed to the Ribaillier house, supplier to Napoleon III

This Fontainebleau school cabinet comes from a château in the Loire Valley. Attributed to the Ribaillier firm, whose founder repeatedly supplied Emperor Napoleon III, its typically Bellifontaine architectural structure emphasizes allegorical decorations and conceals dozens of secrets.

In richly carved molded walnut and green marble with white veins, this particularly original credenza features an upper section decorated with faces and figures from Roman mythology. Two pairs of twisted columns carved with vine branches frame niches in which two removable statuettes are placed. As in the lower section, these antique-style figures play musical instruments, here the lyre and the lute. The central panel features a female allegory of autumn.

The lower section features Roman-style allegorical figures sculpted in relief, including cherub faces and lion muzzles. The whole is enlivened by fluted columns with Corinthian capitals. The lower panel is decorated with Ceres, goddess of agriculture and summer.

At the top, the broken pediment is adorned with a green marble cabochon guarded by two caryatids facing each other and two female telamons on either side. Finally, a pair of large, thickly sculpted figures rest on scrolling consoles.

This credenza features no fewer than 23 openings, including numerous secret drawers. Most of the elements were arranged with the original intention of concealing openings. This is particularly the case for the panels framed by columns at the top, each hiding four small drawers.

Provenance: Château du Val de Loire. This cabinet is attributed to the Ribaillier firm. Pierre Ribaillier, a supplier to Napoleon III, cabinetmaker, and antique dealer, practiced in the mid-19th century. His exceptionally high-quality furniture led him to participate in the 1855 Universal Exhibition. He received a silver medal for one of his creations, which was later acquired by Emperor Napoleon III himself. Subsequently, the Emperor placed numerous official commissions with him, notably for the Château de Saint-Cloud.
The furniture from Ribaillier is original, renowned, and of excellent quality. Ribaillier readily used 17th-century woods, woods, and locks, as can be seen in the photographs. This original piece of furniture is a tribute to the cabinets of the Renaissance school of Fontainebleau. This Bellifontaine art, popular at the court of François I, is characterized by its architectural inspiration drawn from the Italian Renaissance. Decorative effect is paramount, and the representation of the seasons is one of the favorite themes of the Bellifontaine school. Height: 221 cm
Length: 107 cm
Depth: 49.5 cm

Ref: 3QGQAYNUPT