A MAGNIFICENT NAPOLEON III GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED EBONY, ENGRAVED BRASS AND PEWTER, BLUE STAINED HORN AND TORTOISESHELL BOULLE MARQUETRY ARMOIRE PARIS, CIRCA 1875-80

the arched cornice centered by a classical war trophy above a cupboard door fronted with the figure of Louis XIV beneath a canopy, flanked by a further two cupboard doors decorated with leather book spines all with gilt-tooled titles and strapwork decoration listing literature, history, arts and medicine titles, the three doors opening to a rosewood veneered interior each fitted with three shelves, the side doors with trellis and flowerhead grills, the reverse of the central door stamped to the upper left BEFORT J. 

P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, Vol II, University Press, Cambridge, 1996, p. 832, for the original Boulle wardrobe from which the present lot was inspired.

D. Alcouffe et al., Furniture Collections in the Louvre,Vol. I, p. 60-63  for the 18th century cabinet, circa 1700, by André-Charles Boulle, centered by the bronze plaque of Louis XIV as the Sun King similar to the one in the present lot.

Overall in good condition with the usual minor scratches, dents and nicks consistent with age and use. Slight tarnishing to gilt-bronze in places. Age cracks to tortoiseshell in places. Please note this lot contains endangered species and CITES permits will be necessary for export. Please contact the department with any questions.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The marquetry design on the present lot follows the tradition of a number of craftsmen ébénistes at the end of the 17th century making marquetry panels which incorporated tortoiseshell with a variety of metals such as pewter and brass. Notable amongst them was André-Charles Boulle who perfected the technique and whose name has become eponymous with this style. Boulle's celebrated contemporary Alexandre-Jean Oppenordt (c.1639-1715), who was granted lodgings at the Louvre and began work as ébéniste ordinaire du roi in 1684, was also a skillful exponent in the art of sumptuous marquetry panels. Interestingly, although both craftsmen were influenced by the designs of Jean Bérain, they executed their designs very differently; Oppenordt more frequently utilizing foliate arabesques delineated by strapwork. It is interesting to note here that the marquetry pattern that embellishes the sides of this large bibliothèque is close to pattern designs used by Boulle on a number of his side cabinets, see T.A. Stange, An historical Guide to Fench Interiors, Furniture, Decoration, Woodwork and Allied Arts, London, 1918, p. 150 for the illustration of one.

André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732) became ébéniste, ciseleur, doreur et sculpteur du Roi in 1672.

Mathieu Béfort, dit Béfort Jeune, comes from a celebrated dynasty of Paris cabinetmakers with a workshop established as early as 1817 in the faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris. His brother, Jean-Baptiste Béfort, ébéniste-marqueteur as well as antiquaire, specialized in boulle furniture as well. The firm was recorded at Neuves-Saint-Gilles from 1844 until 1880.