In the Empire style, one with an integral clock with an eight day striking movement and white enamel dial with Roman hours, the other with integral aneriod barometer with white enamel dial and Arabic numbers, both by A.M.E. Fournier, with an arched pediment surmounted by a bronze bust of Napoleon after the model by sculptor Antoine-Denis Chaudet, the dials encased by patinated bronze roundels depicting the signs of the zodiac, the rondels flanked by a gilt-bronze frieze applied with classical masks and ribbon-hung swags, above conforming cases headed by anthemion friezes, the cupboard doors with floral scrolling escutcheons and a beaded border, centered by a the figure of Flora and Mercury respectively, the former holding a garland of flowers, the latter with a Caduceus staff, both are surmounted by a six-point star and contained within a lozenge, the front angles with tapering capitals surmounted by female Grecian figureheads and terminating in claw feet, the sides with conforming decorative lyres contained within lozenge borders, the interiors fitted with two adjustable shelves, the whole on ball feet, the back of the locks stamped 'FOURNIER'
Each: 83 in. (210 cm.) high; 33¹⁄₂ in. (85 cm.) wide; 16 in. (39 cm.) deep

Comparative Literature:
P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Fraçais du XIXème Siècle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, Paris, 1989.

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Lot Essay

Of superlative quality and boldly proclaiming the cult of Napoleon, these magnificent cabinets are a fine and unusual example of the work of the celebrated A.M.E Fournier. They are modelled after a meuble-secrètaire illustrated in 'Exposition des Arts au début de siècle', Gazette des Beaux Arts, 1 Jan 1891, p. 503, which was at that time in the Palais de Compiègne. The patinated-bronze busts of Napoleon are after the well-known model by Antoine-Denis Chaudet and the bronze mounts with palmettes, sphynx heads and other classical motifs clearly recall the designs of Percier and Fontaine who produced so many of the Empire period's most enduring and popular designs. The taste and appreciation for these designs and Empire-style furniture in the late 19th century is indeed indicated by the article and exhibition 'Exposition des Arts au début de siècle' which inspired contemporary Parisians with a display of rooms decorated in the 'Imperial' style, including the cabinet on which the present lot is modelled.

A.M.E. Fournier was established in 1849 and by 1856 was based at 12, boulevard de Capucines. Renowned for the iconic design of the rope-twist stool, or pouf à cordes, these cabinets are possibly the finest known examples of case furniture produced by the firm, who at the 1867 Exposition Universelle exhibited 'une tapisserie, des meubles de salon et de chambre à coucher' (Kjellberg, p. 209).