Fruitwood Marquetry Vitrine by Émile Gallé with an ‘Ombelliféres’ Design

This “Ombelliféres” vitrine, by Émile Gallé, crafted from carved and fruitwood inlaid marquetry, sits on four sinuously carved feet. This masterpiece can be considered an homage to the often under-appreciated beauty of the umbel flower. Carved in full relief, umbel flowers decorate the top and bottom of the vitrine, while the back panel of the vitrine unusually comprised of a single composition in marquetry, only slightly disrupted by the narrow shelves that neatly divide the depiction of a large umbel in various shades of inlaid wood.