A fine Napoléon III gilt-bronze mounted kingwood and vernis-Martin decorated side cabinet, France, third quarter 19th century, the mounts cast by Henri Picard

The central door decorated with a painted cartouche with classically dressed nymphs giving water to cupid by a well, some bronze mounts have been removed to reveal the mark HPR

The vernis -Martin technique became popular again in the later years of the 19th century. Patented by Guillaume and Simon-Etienne Martin in 1748, it was developed to imitate Far Eastern, particularly Japanese, lacquerware. The process uses copal and amber varnishes which are layered onto the desired surface.  The varnish is then polished with pumice powder and sealed with oil to create a smooth, glossy finish.  Many 19th century painters added a craquelure to the varnish to imitate the original varnish of the Martin brothers as seen over 100 years earlier.

The fondeur and doreur Henri Picard was based in Paris from 1831 to 1864. The firm supplied services for the work on the apartments of the Emperor Napoleon III now in the Louvre, Paris.