according to a stamp on the underside of the cartonnier manufactured by J. ZWIENER, France c. 1900, curved hardwood frame on gently curved legs, rosewood veneer, freestanding, partly with frieze-like marquetry, 5 drawers, 5 sham drawers, inset with original black and gold-embossed leather writing surface, matching the bureau plat rosewood veneered hardwood frame in freestanding bombé design, 8 drawer fronts of different size, lined with marbled paper and leather matching the leather writing surface, elaborate floral bronze doré fittings, bureau plat c. 76 x 176 x 90 cm, cartonnier c. 67 x 88 x 32 cm, in completely restored condition (DOC)

The present item is subject to conservation legislation (ASB).

J. ZWIENER (1867-1922), brother of Emanuel Zwiener, a cabinet-maker working in Paris, came from Paris to Berlin at the suggestion of Emperor Wilhelm II (1859-1941) and his mother Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland (1840-1901). Julius Zwiener opened his studio in Berlin in 1894 and became a Court Purveyor to Wilhelm II. The emperor’s intention was to enable Berlin, as an up-and-coming metropolis, to compete with Paris in terms of furniture production. Julius Zwiener made a bedroom set for the Berlin Palace, as well as various imposing furniture for the Neues Palais in Berlin. Zwiener was in great competition with the famous cabinet-maker of that time, such as F. LINKE, E. BEURDELEY and P. SORMANI, fuelling creativity and quality demands. The Atelier J. ZWIENER retained the rights to the name until 1950, when the company was sold in 1922.