Alexandre ALFONSI (1886-1944)

Beautiful cabinet on base Wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl, mother-of-pearl burgau, tortoiseshell, green morocco Algiers, early 20th century Bears a stamped mark A. Alfonsi. H. 104 cm - W. 68 cm - D. 27 cm AR This elegant orientalist cabinet made by Alexandre Alfonsi in Algiers is inspired by medieval Islamic art. It uses the radiating decoration of geometrical stars found on architectural elements in the medieval period, such as the famous minbars of the Maghreb or Egypt. The brown tortoiseshell, the burgau mother-of-pearl and the green morocco create delicate harmonies on the different motifs composing this cabinet. The flap opens onto an interior composed of numerous drawers and a double central arcature carved in black wood. The top of the cabinet is adorned with a mandorla with geometrical and scale motifs surrounded by mother of pearl stars, framed by a fine frieze of grecians. The outer panels are decorated with three registers of geometric, diamond and checkerboard motifs, with silver-plated metal handles whose attachments are in the form of gadrooned stars. The cabinet rests on a base with turned wooden elements evoking the moucharabiehs of Egypt.