A Louis XV carved oak display cabinet Aachen or Liège, circa 1750

The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1973

The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection: A Selective Presentation, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1975

Yvonne Hackenbroch and James Parker, The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection: A Selective Presentation, New York, 1975, cat. no. 17.

Beautifully carved, unique piece. Overall in excellent condiiton. Minor age cracks, nicks and bruises to piece consistent with use and age. Some of the glass panels have cracks but only visible when the doors are open. Some scattered cracks to the delicate portions of the carving. Some patches to the feet; one's exterior element is slightly loose. Old repair to the cresting. Small section of one brass escutcheon missing. Three keys. Solidly constructed.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Liège, now part of present day Belgium, had a strong local carving tradition throughout the eighteenth century that was heavily influenced by Parisian style mixed with Germanic influences. Liège furniture is unique in that it is joined, not pegged or nailed, and the carved elements are part of the structural wood rather than applied carving. The present piece is an exquisite example of Liège craftsmanship and design. The flower basket on the cresting relates to a drawing by the Dutch architect and designer Matthias Soiron (1748-1834) illustrated in Joseph Philippe, Le Meuble Liegeois, Liege, 1990, fig. 80. A less refined example of the same motif is repeated on a corner vitrine illustrated ibid., fig. 79. The scale of the present example is an interesting and unusual feature, as many other display cabinets do not exhibit such a pronounced reduction of width between the upper and lower sections. There are a few other examples though including one in a German collection illustrated in Hermann Schmitz, Deutsche Mobel des Barock & Rokoko, Stuttgart, 1923, pg. 219. Another display cabinet of similar proportions is illustrated Thibaut Wolvesperges, Belgian Furniture, 1500-1800, Brussels, 2000, pl. 53.