A gilt-bronze mounted mahogany grand buffet by Henry Dasson, Paris 1880

in the Neoclassical manner, the arched and breakfront upper structure fitted with a glazed door opening to a shelving assortment, the lower structure fitted with three long frieze drawers fitted with interlocked circles enclosing sunflowers and pomegranates above three cupboard doors, on square tapering feet, the back stenciled numerous times with the numbers 48020380 and 48020206, the lower part with the branded stamp HENRY DASSON / 1880 to the back upper left hand corner and a further signature to the molding edge on the left side henry Dasson. 1880.

Sold, Sotheby's, New York, June 18-20, 1981, lot 1124

Henry Dasson (1825-1896), 106 Rue Vielle-du-Temple, Paris, was an important furniture maker using the finest mounts with high quality mercury gilding.  He specialized in reproducing a wide range of furniture and objets d'art of high quality in the style of Louis XIV, XV and XVI.  He purchased the firm of the ébéniste Charles Winckelsen upon his death in 1870 and was an active exhibitor to the Paris Expositions from 1878 until 1895.  The firm closed in 1894.