Rating and value of works, tables, saddles, cupboards by Gabriel Viardot

If you own a work by or after Gabriel Viardot, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will be happy to offer you their appraisal services.

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Rating and artist value Gabriel Viardot

Artist Gabriel Viardot leaves behind a unique body of work in the Japanese style. An outstanding cabinetmaker, he already had his own team by the age of 19. His works are now fetching unprecedented prices from auctioneers' gavels.

His works are particularly prized by French and American buyers. The prices at which they sell on the art market range from 400€ to 26,820€, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Gabriel Viardot's works.

In 2017, a wooden library table sold for €6,500, whereas it was estimated at between €4,000 and €6,000.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Gabriel Viardot

Gabriel Viardot, a renowned cabinetmaker of the XIXᵉ century, stands out for his exceptional mastery of classical cabinetmaking techniques, while incorporating bold elements of his own.

An accomplished craftsman, he skilfully combines woodwork and wrought iron, demonstrating an expertise not unlike that of such great metal masters as Raymond Subes or Vasilev Slavik.

His personal touch lies in his penchant for Japanese aesthetics, an influence that is reflected in his creations from the 1870s, when a taste for the Orient swept Europe.

Viardot's style is characterized by elegant lines, harmonious proportions and meticulously sculpted details.

He draws on Japanese iconography, incorporating motifs such as dragons, exotic birds, cherry blossoms and stylized landscapes, which he engraves and inlays with precision.

The use of lacquer, a delicate technique he masters in the manner of Gaston Suissegives his furniture unrivalled depth and brilliance.

These lacquered surfaces, often enhanced with gold or mother-of-pearl, add a luxurious touch to his creations, while respecting the sober elegance of Japanese art.

Gabriel Viardot doesn't hesitate to experiment with materials, incorporating carved wood panels, chased bronze and even ivory elements to enrich his pieces.

His ability to marry these diverse materials with finesse is a testament to his technical ingenuity and eye for detail.

Each piece of furniture, whether a chest of drawers, a cabinet or a display case, becomes a work of art in its own right, where ornamentation always serves to underline the quality of construction and the beauty of the materials.

His work straddles the border between decorative art and fine cabinetmaking, making Gabriel Viardot an emblematic figure of the Japanese style in Europe, and his influence extends far beyond his own era.

The life of Gabriel Viardot

Gabriel Viardot (1830-1904), French artist and cabinetmaker, became a key figure in the world of 19th-century decorative arts. Born in Paris, he discovered a passion for cabinetmaking at an early age.

Self-taught, he taught himself the techniques of his trade and, by the age of 19, had built up his own team of craftsmen.

In 1853, he joined forces with his brother to found a furniture factory, Viardot frères & cie, where he already developed a taste for innovation and quality.

Seven years later, in 1860, he decided to follow his own path and opened his own studio, "G. Viardot". It was then that he devoted himself entirely to Asian-inspired furniture, a passion that would never leave him.

Fascinated by the aesthetics of the Far East, he chose to import lacquer panels directly from China and Japan.

He transforms them into refined pieces of furniture, adding precious wood inlays from Tonkin and finely crafted details.

Viardot also incorporates ornamental bronzes, often gilded, to enhance the elegance of its creations and make them unique.

The Universal Exhibition of 1867 marked a turning point in his career. His works, noted for their finesse and originality, attracted the attention of critics and the public alike.

It was during this exhibition that L'Escalier de Cristal, a famous Parisian house specializing in luxury objects and art furniture, noticed his work.

This encounter opened up new horizons for Gabriel Viardot, and his creations began to be marketed in the most refined circles of Paris, reaching a demanding international clientele.

With his unique approach, Gabriel Viardot succeeds in fusing the tradition of European cabinetmaking with exotic Asian influences, a blend that seduces with its boldness and refinement.

The furniture he creates is not just utilitarian, but a true work of art, demonstrating exceptional technical mastery and a rare aesthetic sensibility.

This ability to reinvent furniture codes enabled him to become one of the leading exponents of Japanese taste in Europe, leaving a lasting imprint on the history of the decorative arts.

Focus on Gabriel Viardot's creations

Gabriel Viardot is an artist whose work has left a lasting impression, particularly with his Asian-inspired furniture.

An emblematic example of his talent is a Chinese-style cabinet, a piece of furniture that harmoniously blends Eastern influences with European technical expertise.

This cabinet, first of all, catches the eye with its lacquer panels, of Chinese origin, in deep, luminous colors.

The scenes decorating these panels, often landscapes or animals, are executed with such finesse that every detail seems to come to life under the viewer's fingers.

The high-gloss lacquer contrasts subtly with the warmth of the carved wood. This marriage of materials, perfectly mastered by Viardot, creates a fascinating play of light, capturing the eye while conferring great elegance on the piece.

The gilded bronzes applied to the cabinet's corners and handles add a further touch of refinement.

These elements, often carved with floral or geometric motifs, are reminiscent of Asian ornamental styles, but adapted to 19th-century European taste.

Viardot, as a master cabinetmaker, has combined the beauty of materials and the precision of forms to create a piece that is not only decorative but also functional.

The use of bronze in this work is not merely decorative: it emphasizes and enhances the structure of the furniture, while adding luminosity to the darker parts of the lacquer.

The cabinet's interior is no less fascinating. It's ingeniously laid out, with secret drawers and compartments, all created with great attention to detail.

This layout is reminiscent of the ingenuity of traditional Chinese furniture, which often offered discreet storage to hide precious objects and secrets.

Each drawer, each shelf is carefully designed to maximize use while preserving its aesthetic appeal.

Viardot's work is a perfect illustration of her unique talent for combining Orientalism and French craftsmanship.

This piece of furniture doesn't just reproduce Asian motifs and shapes, it reinterprets and integrates them into a European context, creating a hybrid yet perfectly harmonious work.

Through this cabinet, Gabriel Viardot demonstrates his mastery of materials and techniques, while asserting his taste for refinement and elegance.

His work continues to influence the history of decorative art, and remains a testament to the ingenuity and genius of this 19th-century craftsman.

Gabriel Viardot's imprint on his period

Gabriel Viardot marked his period by his talent and the grandeur of his production. Self-taught, he in turn trained numerous cabinetmakers who passed on his techniques of cabinetmaking and ornamental bronzes.

He was one of the few at the time to devote himself exclusively to the Far Eastern style, and excelled in his field, earning him several awards and the rank of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur.

Recognizing the artist's signature

Gabriel Viardot's works are generally signed. They may bear the inscription "Viardot frères & cie" or "G. Viardot".

However, there are many copies. That's why, if you think you own a work by or after the artist, it's essential to have it appraised by an expert who can authenticate it.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Gabriel Viardot, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using the form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you wish to sell your work of art, our specialists will also be on hand to help you sell it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends.