A Louis XV ormolu-mounted vernis and Chinese lacquer bureau en pente circa 1745, stamped I. Dubois JME, probably commissioned by the marchand-mercier Machart, the vernis decoration attributed to Joseph Huitre, the ormolu struck with the 'C' couronné poinçon in numerous places

D. D. Strathos, sold Baussy, Cannes, September 24-25, 1962, lot 116
The Collection of Monsieur and Madame Riahi, sold Christie's New York, November 2, 2000, lot 51 ($237,000)

Pierre Kjellberg, Le Meuble Français, Paris, 1991, p. 243, fig. 285

Scattered age and construction cracks with the largest running horizontally across the length of the back, now redecorated in that area. Decoration refreshed in areas and to interior; scattered chips to gesso and decoration with the largest being approximately 2 inches in length and on the front left leg. Section of ormolu mount for front right leg is now detached and bent. Leather inset probably later. Ormolu with some rubbing, surface dirt, and oxidation consistent with age; some slight lifting in areas.
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.

This bureau en pente is an exquisite example of Dubois’ fine lacquer-decorated furniture, which is characterized by meticulously worked ormolu mounts, gentle undulating lines and the seamless integration of precious oriental lacquer and French vernis. Such vernis panels were supplied by Parisian vernisseurs, whose work Dubois often combined with Chinese lacquer panels, which most often decorated the most prominent part of the bureau: the fall front. One of the vernisseurs working with Dubois was Joseph Huitre, who also manufactured panels for the marchands-merciers Poirier, Duvaux, Lebrun and Machart. Among these merchant-dealers Machart is known to have commissioned lacquer furniture from Dubois, sometimes incorporating panels by Huitre. It has been suggested that the present lot indeed contains panels en laque by Huitre and was commissioned by Machart.
Dubois is known to have executed a number of lacquer desks. The inventory drawn up after his death in 1763 lists ‘un bureau en lac de Chine’ and ‘un petite secrétaire en lac de Japon,’ each priced at 200 livres. Besides assembled pieces of furniture, the inventory also includes a large number of ormolu mounts for future works. The ormolu mounts on the present desk are struck with the ‘C’ couronné poinçon, indicating that they were produced or sold between 1745 and 1749. The mounts on the fall front are identical to those found on a small group of bureaux en pente by Dubois, one of which is in the Art Institute of Chicago (1973.385). Ladies’ desks stamped by Dubois with identical chutes and encadrements  include one formerly in the Rothschild Collection, sold Christie’s London, December 3, 1981, lot 81 and another sold Christie’s London, November 26, 1970, lot 101.