Pair of corner cabinets with architectural scenes, stamped Caumont

These atypical corners with a slightly curved facade present a complex marquetry scene on the front. The composition is that of a fortified town in the background, then closer, a boat accompanied by swans. In the foreground, an antique architectural scene represents a building falling into disuse in a romantic manner but also Greco-Roman statues still standing, evoking the return to classicism of the Louis XVI era.

The canted uprights are decorated with elegant tulip scrolls on a slightly green tinted gasoline background. At the amortization, elegant bronzes with Greek motifs. These rare corners, witnesses of the noble interiors of the end of the 18th century, are topped with reinforced Red Griotte marbles 4 cm thick. Rouge Griotte was the marble of choice for royal apartments in the 18th century. The Rouge Griotte quarries are decreed “Royal quarries”. This variety was notably chosen for the monumental fireplace of the Opéra Garnier but also for the creation of the fireplaces of Versailles, Fontainebleau, the Louvre...

The leaves open, one from the right, the other from the left, through ribbon keyholes, to reveal an interior with three small shelves.

The corners are both stamped Jean Caumont and JME.

Jean Caumont attained the Master's degree in 1774. The Louis XVI style is predominant in his work, he is a specialist in colored marquetry which is found in particular on his secretaries and chests of drawers. The latter present motifs of vases, baskets, floral motifs, musical attributes... and more rarely architectural landscapes for his most beautiful works as is the case on our pair of corners. The Count of Salverte praises Caumont’s “sought after motives”. The bronzes with Greek motifs adorning the uprights as well as the ribbon keyholes are typical of the Master's choices. A chest of drawers by Jean Caumont is visible at the Carnavalet museum in Paris.

Louis XVI period, 18th century. Usual restorations.