A fine gilt-metal and pietra dura mounted ebony and rosewood veneered table cabinet the cabinet German, second half 17th century, the pietra dura plaques Florentine, second half 17th century

with a domed top, above three drawers, above a further long drawer applied with pietra dura plaques with fruiting branches, with later gilt-bronze banding and embellishments

Old minor restorations to the carcass, for example, to some cracks and to the veneer but these have been very well executed and are hardly noticeable. Ebonised border on base and feet possibly later. Very nice choice of stones. Some very minor restorations to the two panels on the lower drawer eg. to the leaf in the centre of the left panel and cherry top right corner of right panel, the latter has been restored with coloured filler but these have been well executed. In overall good restored condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:

Alvar González-Palacios, Il Tempio Del Gusto, "Le arti decorative in Italia fra classicismi e barocco, La Toscana e l'Italia Settentrionale", 1986

Alvar González-Palacios, La Manifattura di Luigi XIV ai Gobelins, 'I Splendori di Pietre Dure' , cat. expo, Florence, 1989, p. 242-245.

A. Setterwall, `Some Louis XVI furniture decorated with Pietra Dura reliefs',  in the Burlington Magazine, 1969, p. 425-435.

The pietra dura panels on this piece are in the manner of the Florentine, Giovanni Ambrogio Giacchetti, who was active around 1670-75 in the Gobelins workshop in Paris, where his works are recorded in the Comptes des Batiments. These type of panels were made in Italy and France towards the end of the 17th century  and were often reused later on and incorprated in Louis XVI commodes such as the one by Carlin, which is in the Queen's Collection at Buckingham Palace and another in the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Both are decorated with hardstone panels in a similar vein to the ones on this piece. The panels are signed on the back Giacchetti (see A.G.P. Il Gusto dei Principi, Milan, Vol. II, 1993, p. 30-31.)

These stones were highly prized in the 17th and 18th centuries and the pomegranate is a very rare feature in these compositions as on the present cabinet.      

Compare a panel attributed to Giacchetti with a pomegranate, sold as lot 77, Sotheby's, Monaco, 24th June 2000 (490,000FF). 

For a casket mounted with similar plaques, see Anna Maria Giusti, Splendori di Pietre Dure,  Florence, 1989, p. 166, no. 40