Vitrines are glass showcases or cabinets for displaying collections or precious possessions.  They were common from the 17th through the 19th centuries and ranged in style from the simple to the ornate.

 

Kingwood is a dense, exotic type of rosewood that can be sourced from a very small region of Brazil. It is known for its striking violet-brown color and grain and is very expensive. It was almost exclusively used on  very fine furniture. It has a bright luster, takes a nice polish and develops patina as it ages.

 

Bronze d'oré, also known as ormolu or gilt bronze, was a decorative finish used on luxury furnishings in the 18th and 19th centuries. An application of finely ground high carat gold and mercury amalgam was placed on objects of bronze. When subjected to extremely high heat, the mercury evaporated, leaving behind a lustrous coating of gold.

 

Gilt-bronze trim was used to protect furniture from damage and to emphasize form, and to mount beautiful objects such as candelabra, clocks, lamps, mirrors, pedestals and porcelain vases.