DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1399#0047
TLATE 214.
AN EBONY CABINET,
BY H. FOURDINOIS, JUN„ PARIS.
IN awarding a prize medal to M. Fourdinois, Jim., the International Jury of Class 30 (Furniture
and Decoration) remark that " M. Henry Fourdinois (son of the eminent ebeniste M.
Fourdinois) makes his debut at the present Exhibition with a work of the highest order, which,
in the opinion of the Jury and the general public, is at once classed as an exceptional work, and
is truly a chef-d'oeuvre. His cabinet of carved wood, inlaid with ivory in the interior, is executed
in the style of the 16th century, and equals, by the delicacy of its execution, beauty of design,
and general elegance of form, the finest works of that fine period. Soberness of ornamentation,
simplicity of line, precision of workmanship, are all present in this beautiful cabinet; and whilst
recalling these special characteristics of the works of another period, it possesses a character of
originality peculiarly its own, which distinguishes it in a very high degree. The other pieces
of furniture exhibited by M. Henry Fourdinois are for more general use, mostly high class, the
execution of which leaves nothing to be desired, and would suffice of themselves to gain for their
author, at the outset of his career, the place which belongs to him by right, and which he has
reached at the first bound."
This fine cabinet was over eight feet in height; it was ornamented with beautiful carvings
in low relief by M. Megret, and enriched with incrustations of lapis lazuli, bloodstone, and jasper,
very tastefully applied; the interior front fittings being relieved with gracefully-composed inlay
of engraved ivory and silver masks, very delicately chased. The centre panel of the lower portion
contained a very finely-carved bas-relief of the Rape of Proserpine, the four angles being filled
in with allegorical figures of the Arts and Sciences; the " grotesque" carvings of the side
panels and the frieze were in the best style of Italian Cinque-Cento ornament, and recalled
to mind similar decoration executed by the greatest sculptors of that period. The upper portion
of the cabinet contained figures of Apollo and Diana in the centre panels, very finely composed
and executed, the side niches being furnished with statuettes in high relief of Mars and Minerva.
In the centre of the pediment was a shield to receive armorial bearings or a monogram, and
on each side of it were figures of Peace and Plenty. The cabinet was valued at £1,400, and we
are glad to state was purchased by a well-known connoisseur in this country, by whom its unusual
excellence is duly appreciated.
Although ebony was used in the smaller articles of furniture during the Middle Ages, it is
not until the 16th century that we find it described as being made into larger objects, such as
cabinets, &c, probably on account of the difficulty in obtaining it from Asia, until after the
Portuguese extended trade with the East, and partly on account of the difficulty of working it.
One of the earliest examples of an ebony cabinet with which we are acquainted is that preserved
in the Historical Museum at Dresden, finely carved, and enriched with silver statuettes,
by Hans Kellerthaler, dated A.D. 1585. Another very fine piece in the same museum, ornamented
with figures and bas-reliefs in ivory, and containing likewise a spinet, was executed by Hans
Schifferstein in the last half of the century. It is, however, during the succeeding century
that the finest works in ebony appear to have been produced, principally by German, Flemish,
and French ebenistes, educated in the traditions of the Italian Renaissance, which they rendered
frequently, in point of design and manipulation, in a manner worthy of their models. Among the
most celebrated cabinet-makers of this pei'iod may be cited Hans Schwanhard, of Augsburg, who
first introduced the broad undulating ornament, so characteristic of the fine ebony frames of the
17th century. In the "Mazarinade," A.D. 1649, two rare cabinets of ebony, so bright and
shining that they might serve as mirrors, are described as being the principal ornaments of the
great saloon in the Mazarin palace.
In this country several fine pieces of furniture in ebony are to be found; the most notable
amongst which are the magnificent cabinets, carved in low relief, belonging to Her Majesty the
Queen and P. Holford, Esq., the last of which came from the well-known collection of M. Baron,
of Paris, and is engraved in Du Sommerard's " Album," 2nd series. These are both specimens
of the first half of the 17th century, and remain as yet unrivalled in point of size and execution,
and the nearest approach to them is the cabinet now manufactured by M. Fourdinois.
AN EBONY CABINET,
BY H. FOURDINOIS, JUN„ PARIS.
IN awarding a prize medal to M. Fourdinois, Jim., the International Jury of Class 30 (Furniture
and Decoration) remark that " M. Henry Fourdinois (son of the eminent ebeniste M.
Fourdinois) makes his debut at the present Exhibition with a work of the highest order, which,
in the opinion of the Jury and the general public, is at once classed as an exceptional work, and
is truly a chef-d'oeuvre. His cabinet of carved wood, inlaid with ivory in the interior, is executed
in the style of the 16th century, and equals, by the delicacy of its execution, beauty of design,
and general elegance of form, the finest works of that fine period. Soberness of ornamentation,
simplicity of line, precision of workmanship, are all present in this beautiful cabinet; and whilst
recalling these special characteristics of the works of another period, it possesses a character of
originality peculiarly its own, which distinguishes it in a very high degree. The other pieces
of furniture exhibited by M. Henry Fourdinois are for more general use, mostly high class, the
execution of which leaves nothing to be desired, and would suffice of themselves to gain for their
author, at the outset of his career, the place which belongs to him by right, and which he has
reached at the first bound."
This fine cabinet was over eight feet in height; it was ornamented with beautiful carvings
in low relief by M. Megret, and enriched with incrustations of lapis lazuli, bloodstone, and jasper,
very tastefully applied; the interior front fittings being relieved with gracefully-composed inlay
of engraved ivory and silver masks, very delicately chased. The centre panel of the lower portion
contained a very finely-carved bas-relief of the Rape of Proserpine, the four angles being filled
in with allegorical figures of the Arts and Sciences; the " grotesque" carvings of the side
panels and the frieze were in the best style of Italian Cinque-Cento ornament, and recalled
to mind similar decoration executed by the greatest sculptors of that period. The upper portion
of the cabinet contained figures of Apollo and Diana in the centre panels, very finely composed
and executed, the side niches being furnished with statuettes in high relief of Mars and Minerva.
In the centre of the pediment was a shield to receive armorial bearings or a monogram, and
on each side of it were figures of Peace and Plenty. The cabinet was valued at £1,400, and we
are glad to state was purchased by a well-known connoisseur in this country, by whom its unusual
excellence is duly appreciated.
Although ebony was used in the smaller articles of furniture during the Middle Ages, it is
not until the 16th century that we find it described as being made into larger objects, such as
cabinets, &c, probably on account of the difficulty in obtaining it from Asia, until after the
Portuguese extended trade with the East, and partly on account of the difficulty of working it.
One of the earliest examples of an ebony cabinet with which we are acquainted is that preserved
in the Historical Museum at Dresden, finely carved, and enriched with silver statuettes,
by Hans Kellerthaler, dated A.D. 1585. Another very fine piece in the same museum, ornamented
with figures and bas-reliefs in ivory, and containing likewise a spinet, was executed by Hans
Schifferstein in the last half of the century. It is, however, during the succeeding century
that the finest works in ebony appear to have been produced, principally by German, Flemish,
and French ebenistes, educated in the traditions of the Italian Renaissance, which they rendered
frequently, in point of design and manipulation, in a manner worthy of their models. Among the
most celebrated cabinet-makers of this pei'iod may be cited Hans Schwanhard, of Augsburg, who
first introduced the broad undulating ornament, so characteristic of the fine ebony frames of the
17th century. In the "Mazarinade," A.D. 1649, two rare cabinets of ebony, so bright and
shining that they might serve as mirrors, are described as being the principal ornaments of the
great saloon in the Mazarin palace.
In this country several fine pieces of furniture in ebony are to be found; the most notable
amongst which are the magnificent cabinets, carved in low relief, belonging to Her Majesty the
Queen and P. Holford, Esq., the last of which came from the well-known collection of M. Baron,
of Paris, and is engraved in Du Sommerard's " Album," 2nd series. These are both specimens
of the first half of the 17th century, and remain as yet unrivalled in point of size and execution,
and the nearest approach to them is the cabinet now manufactured by M. Fourdinois.