An early Victorian porcelain and ormolu mounted rosewood and tulipwood jewellery coffer on stand or coffre a bijoux attributed to Johann Martin Levien (1811-1871)Circa 1845, an identical model forms part of the Royal CollectionThe quarter veneered box superstructure mounted with five oval Sevres style porcelain plaques painted with a trio of putti and four pairs of putti, variously allegorical of viniculture, geography, astronomy, literature, music and fire making, each plaque set within a shaped C- and S-scroll, floral, foliate and rocaille panel mount, the superstructure comprised of a hinged top enclosing a velvet lined interior, above a cavetto leaf mounted panelled frieze, with canted floral clasped angles, over a re-entrant panel mounted hinged fall front enclosing two pigeon holes, two short mahogany lined tulipwood veneered drawers and one shelf, on a stand with a shaped apron mounted with four oval Sevres style painted porcelain plaques, each within a ribbon tied entwined twin oak leaf branch and oak leaf wreath mount, on keeled cabriole legs each headed by a floral swagged, paterae embedded scrolled corbel, beaded and acanthus clasped mount, with guilloche cast chutes terminating in scrolled foliate sabots, approximately: 54cm wide x 49cm deep x 110cm high, (21in wide x 19in deep x 43in high)Footnotes:An identical model of jewellery cabinet on stand (referred to as a coffre a bijoux in French), which is dated 1846 and is also, as with the present lot, attributed to Johann Martin Levien, forms part of the Royal collection, see www.rct.uk, RCIN 169.Although Levien is famed for his furniture executed in assorted exotic specimen woods, the latter of which were predominantly sourced from New Zealand, the vast majority of his work was in fact made from more traditional timbers. And this seems to have been the case for his output in French styles, particularly those in the Louis XV taste as with the offered model and the Royal comparable. The latter coffre a bijoux, along with the above example, are representative of the endorsement of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, especially during the 1840s, for French-inspired pieces. The modified or updated Louis XV (or Rococo revival) style was evidently the one preferred by the Royal couple at that time. The porcelain plaques on both of these jewellery cabinets, which are painted in the Sèvres style with scènes galantes, birds and flowers within gilded cartouches, are almost certainly of English manufacture, for more information please refer to Victoria & Albert: Art and Love, 2010, London.Johann Martin LevienLevien was born in Barth on the Baltic coast, in what is today part of Germany. During his youth he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker there before travelling extensively across Europe. Following a trip to Brazil in 1837, Levien took the decision to set himself up there as both a cabinet maker and dealer responsible for making and selling pieces comprised of or incorporating a wide array of exotic timbers. However, the trade in this area evidently proved too competitive at that time in South America and represented too difficult a prospect for the young Levien. Consequently he chose a different course, specifically by boarding an English ship destined for New Zealand in 1840. By the end of the following year, Johann Martin had established a new furniture enterprise in New Zealand. Also, even in what was a relatively brief period, the diligent cabinet maker had greatly expanded his collection of exotic specimen wood samples. And although clearly prospering there, in 1843 Levien moved once again, but on this particular occasion to England. Interestingly he would never return to New Zealand thereafter.His career and renown progressed so rapidly in London, that in hardly any time after his arrival there, Levien was able to set up workshops at New Zealand Company on Broad Street, as well as develop the main room at this location as a space in which to properly display his firm's impressive 'wares'. His most notable clients tended to be affluent and aristocratic, whilst on occasion they were even members of the Royal family, tending to be either from the British or Prussian courts.Included among Levien's most important and illustrious patrons were figures such as: the Prussian ambassador, Christian Charles Josias von Bunsen (later Baron von Bunsen); Frederick William IV, King of Prussia; Baron von Stockmar, Baron Rothschild, Stewart Marjoribanks, Lord Ilchester, John Abel Smith, Lord Ingestre and of course most significantly Queen Victoria.In 1846 a Royal appointment was bestowed upon Levien and this honour was triumphantly announced by 'The London Sun' only a couple of weeks afterwards in the following way: 'We are happy to announce that Her Majesty has been pleased to confer upon Mr Levien the appointment of cabinet-maker to Her Majesty, in token of the very elegant specimens of workmanship made by him... Her Majesty the Queen was the first to patronise him. And he has secured great favour with Her Majesty by his workmanship, his skill, and his woods.'A mere two years later, in 1848, Johann Levien was awarded both a gold medal and a further Royal appointment, albeit on this occasion from the King of Prussia. In fact that year was an especially successful one for Levien's business since they were doing well enough to re-establish themselves at the exclusive and highly sought after 10 Davies Street address, located in Grosvenor Square. Subsequently Levien submitted four pieces to the famous 1851 Great Exhibition.Despite his prolific output and widespread renown, only a very small number of stamped or documented examples of Levien's furniture are known to exist or remain. This seems particularly odd considering the fact that by the time the cabinet maker retired and subsequently sold the firm in 1868, hundreds of works must have been produced in his name. Although it does seem extremely likely that the vast majority of his output was almost certainly left unsigned or unmarked, whilst a great deal of it also went on to be later sold by retailers such as R. Lucas & Co.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: TP YTP For auctions held in Scotland: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Constantine, Constantine House, North Caldeen Road, Coatbridge ML5 4EF, Scotland, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please refer to the catalogue for further information.For all other auctions: Lots will be moved to an offsite storage location (Cadogan Tate, Auction House Services, 241 Acton Lane, London NW10 7NP, UK) and will only be available for collection from this location at the date stated in the catalogue. Please note transfer and storage charges will apply to any lots not collected after 14 calendar days from the auction date.Y Subject to CITES regulations when exporting items outside of the UK, see clause 13.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com