CHRISTIE'S SELLS RARE CUCCI CABINET FOR £4,521,250

COMBINING SUPERB FLORENTINE PIETRE DURE PLAQUES WITH OPULENT GILT BRONZE MOUNTS, ELABORATE MARQUETRY AND BEAUTIFULLY MODELED FIGURATIVE CARVINGS, THE STUNNING CABINET IS A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE MAGNIFICENT CABINETS PRODUCED IN PARIS IN THE MID-17th CENTURY. ALMOST CERTAINLY A GIFT TO QUEEN HEDVIG ELEONORA OF SWEDEN, OD PERHAPS COMMISSIONED BY HER, IT IS ONE OF ONLY VERY FEW SURVIVING CABINETS EXECUTED AT THE ROYAL GOBELINS WORKSHOPS IN PARIS. IT ILLUSTRATES THE BRILLIANCE OF THE BEST ITALIAN, FRENCH AND FLEMISH ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN WHO HAD BEEN DRAWN TOGETHER AT THE GOBELINS AND EXEMPLIFIES THE LUXURIOUS SOPHISTICATION OF EARLY BAROQUE AT THE ROYAL COURTS AT VERSAILLES AND STOCKHOLM. MARCUS RADECKE, DIRECTOR AND HEAD OF THE AUCTION HOUSE THAT SOLD THE CABINET: 'WE ARE THRILLED WITH THE RESULT ACHIEVED BY THE MAGNIFICENT CUCCI CABINET FROM THE MARCH FAMILY COLLECTION, WHICH REALIZED £4,521,250, SELLING TO AN ANONYMOUS BIDDER IN THE TELEPHONE. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, THIS RARE SURVIVAL FROM THE GOBELINS WORKSHOPS ATTRACTED INTERNATIONAL INTEREST AND DREW COLLECTORS, INSTITUTIONS AND DEALERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO CHRISTIE'S LONDON.' CHRISTIE'S IS PROUD OF ITS STELLAR HISTORY WHICH WAS FOUNDED ON PRESENTING SOME OF THE GREATEST PIECES OF FURNITURE IN EXISTENCE TO THE MARKET OVER THE PAST 243 YEARS AND HOLDS THE RECORD FOR 8 OF THE TOP 10 EUROPEAN FURNITURE LOTS SOLD AT AUCTION. IN DECEMBER 2004 THE BADMINTON CABINET, COMMISSIONED BY HENRY SOMERSET, 3rd DUKE OF BEAUFORT, FROM THE GRAND DUCAL WORKSHOPS, WAS SOLD FOR £19.1 million, SETTING THE WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR ANY PIECE OF TRADITIONAL FURNITURE.