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Gabriel VIARDOT (1830-1901) – Japanese-style fireplace in stained sycamore wood, topped with a dragon and an imposing circular mirror

A talented wood sculptor, Gabriel Viardot opened a furniture factory and store in Paris in 1853. In the 1870s, he decided to dedicate himself to Japanese-style furniture. Participating in the numerous exhibitions that marked the art scene of the second half of the 19th century, each of his contributions was met with success. He won a silver medal at the Universal Exhibitions of 1878, 1885, and 1889, and then a gold medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Measuring 261.5 cm in height and 160.5 cm in width, this fireplace is among the cabinetmaker's most imposing creations. The design of our fireplace is particularly original in that it is based on the complementary superposition of a circular mirror and a rectangular firebox. Technically and artistically, the creation of such a piece is a tour de force. The jambs are each adorned with a rampant dragon whose menacing heads are turned outwards. Their contorted bodies form an "S" shape, and their claws are firmly anchored in the wood. The lintel is richly decorated with geometric motifs typical of Japonisme and features a medallion adorned with flowers at its center. Evoking the overhanging roofs of Japanese temples, the lintel's projecting ends are slightly curved inwards. The upper part of the fireplace is remarkably complex. In the center, a secondary structure replicates the same notched profile as the lintel, and Viardot adds exquisitely openwork spandrels. At the top of this pagoda-like structure, a dragon with its mouth slightly open looms over the composition with a menacing air. The use of stained sycamore allows for a high degree of finish, particularly noticeable in the rendering of musculature and details. Set back against the wall, an imposing circular mirror defines the visual balance of the ensemble. The wooden crossbars that span it serve as a pretext for ornamentation: thus segmented, the different sections of the mirror act as a changing backdrop to this Japanese-inspired fantasy where plants and abstract geometric forms mingle. In 1887, the Revue des Arts Décoratifs praised Gabriel Viardot's work: "Inspired by Chinese and Japanese art, these pieces of furniture, adapted to European tastes, are far superior in craftsmanship to the originals, which most often have only decorative value and whose joinery is almost always defective; this adaptation is very interesting, for Mr. Viardot knows how to give his furniture a special character, while retaining the Asian style." » The fireplace attributed to Gabriel Viardot, which was sold in New York in 2013 (Christie’s, New York, April 18, 2013, lot 13), does not include a mirror and features a design and treatment of detail particularly close to our example.