Bronze plaques on cabinets - who made them?

Posting on behalf of Rick Ponder:

Hi rare Victorian,

Greetings from St Louis,

I have a question about the bronze plaques used on neo-grec and renaissance revival furniture.  Did the cabinet makers produce their own plaques or were they purchased from metal shops and incorporated into their pieces?  The reason I ask is that I own a parlor cabinet with a bronze plaque that matches the one found in the music cabinet that just sold at Kamelot.  The Kamelot cabinet is attributed to Allen Bros.  Please find enclosed photos.

Thanks

Rick Ponder

I think that they were an item that could be purchased from a foundary / manufacturer and applied by the cabinetmaker.  I had a sideboard that I sold earlier this year that had a bronze plaque that I have seen on a least 3 seperate occasions from various makers.  Having said that I would think that a given maker would be unlikely to purchase a single example of a bronze panel, and thus you might see that same panel on multiple pieces from the same maker.  I am attaching a a couple of photo of the panels on the sideboard I sold, maker unknown.

Thanks,

Michael

I have wondered this very same thing, myself.  I have an outstanding (New York City made) rosewood cabinet that possesses a nice bronze plaque of a muscular, angry, poised-to-strike Poisideon -- spear in hand while riding a crest of waves over mythical sea cherubs/creatures -- on the front door.  Ten years after purchase, I was attending an auction and, to my pleasabt surprise, one of the small items available was the exact same bronze -- same size, pose, etc.  It's a fine piece and I purchased it relatively cheaply.  Ever since, I've wondered, who-it-was that made these great pieces for the fine cabinet-makers.

Thanks for asking.  Wish I could help both of us with this info.

BornaHeel