Designed by Louis-Constant Sevin for the famed Barbedienne foundry, this gilt bronze and cloisonné enamel cabinet was displayed at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. With its Moorish-inspired design and unmatched artistry, the cabinet impressed visitors, connoisseurs and critics alike. The elaborate piece – later described as a “tour-de-force” – caught the eye of American tycoon William Henry Vanderbilt, who acquired it for theenormous mansion he was building at 640 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Sotheby’s is delighted to present this extraordinary object with a celebrated provenance.