I’ve been on a porcelain kick lately, thinking about interesting ways to integrate gilded, over the top works into my sadly less than rococo lifestyle.  And stunning applique mirrors seem like a good way to add glamour to a room without having the style overwhelm it.  This particular work was done circa 1890 by Meissen, who, along with Nymphemburg has a legendary reputation as one of the highest quality artisan porcelain workshops in Germany, if not the world.  Both have been around for hundreds of years and are still turning out absolutely spectacular work in sculpture and tableware just outside Munich.  Now all I have to do is start saving….

Available at MS Rau Antiques in New Orleans

This is really the kind of piece to make you salivate – it has a natural elegance to it, incredibly detailed without bragging about it.  The inlay is masterful, but what I really like is the wood selection and how they’ve centered the interesting part of the grain (is that…burl walnut?) smack in the middle of the front curves.  The feet are also lovely; a bit staunch, but they fit the overall scale quite nicely.  So refined and so understated, this is exactly the kind of item I’d like to pick up one of these days.  Leave it to the Italians…

Available until April, 1st as Lot 101 in the Fine European Furniture including Tapestries, Silver, Ceramics and Carpets Auction at Sotheby’s New York Offices.