A large octagonal Austrian silver and enamel mounted ebonized casket on stand Probably Vienna, circa 1885

of architectural outline mounted inside and out with enamel plaques depicting biblical and mythological scenes, set with silver enameled chimera and grotesque masks clasps, the casket surmounted by a pediment ornamented by a classical urn flanked by four winged rearing horses above two small frieze drawers, the casket fitted with two drawers opening to an arrangement of six more drawers and set all around with ten enamelled and raised gilt-columns with palm capitals, on a spreading base fitted with one drawer to the front and one drawer to each side, raised on a conforming stand with similar decorations.  Some losses to the silver and enamel mounting. 

The appearance of this cabinet on stand shows the interest of cabinetmakers in the old Austrian Empire to produce pieces which they wanted to be seen as fine arts, rather than as purely decorative pieces of furniture. The Baroque style with its use of many mythological and religious subjects offered an appropriate basis for the decoration of the present lot. The enamels on this piece are typical for the works of art produced in the regions of Vienna, Prague and Bohemia. All these areas are renowned for glass production, a related technique. Many of the goldsmiths were well versed in the art of the enamelling. Most distinctive are the works by Viennese artists; the best known makers were Hermann Boehm, Simon Gruenwald, Ludwig Pollizer and Hermann Ratzersdorfer, although not a great deal of research has been done on their oeuvre to date.