Working table, top decorated with an Asian scene... Lot 4

Working table, top decorated with an Asian scene with mother-of-pearl inlays, opening to a drawer, 19th c. 32X45X72- Maison Vervelle, important liqueur cellar, 4 decanters and 18 glasses, 32X24X25 (Liqueur cellars, emblematic of the luxury and elegance of the 19th-century French bourgeoisie, flourished under the Empire with sober designs in mahogany and marquetry, purchased mainly in the garden stores of the Palais-Royal. Their extremely fine interiors often housed square, blown and gilded crystal bottles from a variety of prestigious manufacturers. The introduction of colored Bohemian crystal in the 1835-1840s enriched their palette, making liqueur cellars a prized wedding gift and symbol of the aristocracy. With the rise of cabinetmaking and the abolition of guilds, liqueur cellars diversified, featuring a variety of shapes and refined decoration, from exotic woods to gilded bronze ornaments, testifying to the wealth of French expertise in the decorative arts. Few objects can boast as spectacular a rise as the caves à liqueurs, veritable jewels of meticulousness and ingenuity. It was a time when the burgeoning bourgeoisie, encouraged by Guizot's famous "Enrich Yourself" of 1840, revelled in luxury and decoration, propelling refined objects like liqueur cellars to the top of the trend. It's rumored that it was George Sand herself who, in the 19th century, initiated the craze for these elegant treasures. (for further information, please refer to : JOHANNIDES Dimitri, "les caves à liqueurs", Gazette Drouot, Nov. 27, 2009, p.2 )