Style Japonism, Chinoiserie / Ref.16075

Gabriel VIARDOT (1830–1904), (attributed to) – Rare japoniste crescent-moon mirror with bronze dragon

This japoniste mirror in bronze and walnut was made circa 1880–1890. Its Sino-Japanese inspiration, together with the presence of a characteristic prowling bronze dragon, allows this mirror to be attributed to the prolific cabinetmaker Gabriel Viardot (1830–1904), renowned for his production of japoniste furniture and works of art. The bronze dragon coils elegantly around the wooden frame, shaped like a crescent moon. The ornamental details are exceptionally fine: the scales along the flank and tail, and the pronounced musculature of the twisting body enhance the creature’s dynamic movement. With its mouth slightly open, the beast seems to threaten whoever gazes into the mirror. The restrained design of the frame sets off the striking presence of this superb bronze dragon, a recurring motif in Gabriel Viardot’s oeuvre.

Born in Paris in 1830, Gabriel Viardot began his career alongside his brother Louis before founding his own workshop in 1860 and taking over the family business. The 1867 Exposition Universelle gave Western audiences the opportunity to discover the Chinese and Japanese pavilions, which drew fascination for the novelty of their motifs and techniques. In an artistic climate shaped by eclecticism and Orientalism, enthusiasm for Asian art grew steadily, prompting Viardot to devote himself to the creation of furniture inspired by Japanese and Chinese art. His work earned him several medals at the Expositions Universelles (1867, 1878, 1885, 1889 and 1900), as well as at the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs exhibition in 1884.