Gabriel Viardot dragon mirror. Walnut. France. 19 century. 75x46 cm.

Gabriel Viardot (1830 - 1906) set up his own business in 1872 to specialise in Chinese and Japanese style antique furniture. At the height of his business he employed over 90 craftsmen and exhibited at many International fairs and exhibitions including The central union of decorative arts in 1884, the world exhibition of Antwerp where he won a gold medal. In 1885 Viardot was awarded the Knight in the legion of honour. In 1889 at the Paris world exhibition he was awarded another gold medal and also received the same award at the worlds fair of 1900.