19th Century Mahogany Side Cabinet in the Louis XVI Manner by Durand of Paris

Of elegant demilune form and employing exquisite flamed Cuban mahogany, the whole dressed with restrained neoclassical mounts in the manner of Jean-Henri Riesener; rising from tapering legs mounted with ormolu sabots. The convex side doors displaying boxwood stringing and incorporating an adjustable shelved interior and flanking five graduated central drawers with laurel loop handles, ingeniously locked by the pivoting mahogany moulding running down the sides of the drawers. Surmounted with a veined Carrara marble top delineated by a three-quarter gallery. Bearing the maker’s stamp twice “G. Durand.”
French, circa 1875

Gervais-Maximilien-Eugene Durand (b. 1839) et Fils
 
Specialising in the production of 18th century style furniture of the finest quality, Gervais-Maximilien-Eugène Durand (b. 1839) exhibited at the Exposition Universelle of Paris in 1889, gaining a silver medal, and the praise of the judges, who compared their work with that of Beurdeley and Dasson. With his son Frederic-Louis joining him in 1902, the firm changed its name to Durand et Fils. His work may be seen in the Museum of Decorative Arts of Lyon.

Literature:

Mestdagh, Camille, and Pierre Lécoules. L’ameublement d’art français: 1850-1900. Paris: Les Éditions de L’Amateur, 2010, pp. 284-293 (figs 336, 346-7), illustrating the present cabinet as an example of the exquisite craftsmanship of Durand.

Ledoux-Lebard, Denise. Le mobilier francais du XIXe siècle, 1795-1889 : dictionnaire des ébénistes et des menuisiers. Paris: Éditions de l’amateur, 2000; pp 181-4.

Payne, Christopher. Paris Furniture: The Luxury Market of the 19th Century. Château de Saint-Rémy: Éditions Monelle Hayot, 2018, pp 338-41.