A pair of gilt-bronze-mounted kingwood, sycamore and marquetry meubles d'appui stamped M B EVALD Louis XV/XVI, Transitional,circa 1770

with shaped marble tops above a single frieze drawer and two doors centred by musical trophies, one opening to reveal an interior fitted with four drawers, the other with a shelf

Both in very good conserved condition and elegant proportions. The marble tops are later. The internal shelves on one are later and the inside has been revarnished. One door of one cabinet has an age crack which can easily be filled and old minor restorations to old cracks which have been well executed. The same cabinet has an old restoration to the veneer towards the top of the right hand side. The other cabinet with loss to veneer on lower left frieze. Very minor chips, marks and scratches to the veneer throughout. Very attractive detail to marquetry. Some very minor areas of reveneering of tulipwood banding. The hinges and locks have been replaced.The gilt-bronze mounts are original to the piece and 18th century but surmoulé ie cast from another old mount. One cabinet has been restored more than the other. They are a good size and can be placed immediately.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Maurice-Bernard Evald received Master 1765.

The distinctive marquetry on this pair of  meubles d'appui with small-scale ornaments within a ribboned floral reserve on a sycamore ground, is a particular feature of the work of Evald. They belong to a group of pieces which include a commode à vantaux sold from the the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30th April 1999, lot 167, illustrated by P. Lemonnier, 'Evalde. Un marqueteur original', L'Estampille - L'Objet d'Art, December 1991, p. 50.

A further related secrétaire, previously in the collection of the Earls of Morsley at Saltram, Devon, is illustrated by S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London, 1974, fig. 140, also see a bonheur du jour by the same maker, illustrated op. cit., plate 139. Furthermore, a table decorated with his distinctive marquetry is illustrated by P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 2002, p. 342.

Evald was of German origin, and moved to Paris in the early 1760's, where he was established in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. He was soon patronized by the Royal family and the Court, and his clientèle included the duc d'Aumont, the princesse de Chimay, the comtesse de Périgord, the marquise de Bussy, the comte de Narbonne and the duc de Fitz-James.

In 1769, he was commissioned by François-Joseph Belanger, dessinateur des Menus-Plaisirs to execute a jewel cabinet presented by Louis XV to Marie-Antoinette on the occasion of her wedding to the future Louis XVI in 1770.