A LOUIS XV GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED, EBONY AND COPPER MARQUETRY BUREAU PLAT, CIRCA 1760, AFTER A MODEL BY ANDRÉ-CHARLES BOULLE |

decorated in 'contrepartie' foliages and arabesques, the front with a satyr mask opening with three drawers, resting on arched amounts topped with Démocrite masks, the top upholstered in black leather; (three key locks replaced)

Sold Sotheby's London, 21 June 1974, lot 61
Sold Christie's London, 6 July 2006, lot 200
Sold Sotheby's Paris, 19 April 2016, lot 139

Références bibliographiquesP. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1989, p. 110
A. Pradère, Les Ebénistes français de Louis XIV à la Révolution, Tours, 1986
J. N. Ronfort et all, André-Charles Boulle, 1642-1732, Un nouveau Style pour l'Europe, cat. expo. Frankfurt, 2009

Overall condition is reasonnably good. The bureau plat has been restored under the previous decades ; as expected on such piece some restorations have been undertaken and therefore some elements of the marquetry replaced. Structure is solid.The marquetry : the brass inlaid is slightly lifting in places, particularly to the legs and the edges. The ebony veneer with some minor missing elements and a few lifting bits. The marquetry probably quite dry. One wooden piece on the edge of the back left leg (just under the bronze mask) needs to be refixed. The brass inlaid possibly with replacements in places and a few losses.The gilt bronze mounts: Most of them have traces of mercury gilding and expected wear. They are some differences in the chasing, for example the masks and the corners mounts are chased differently than the feet. The chasing is fine. The four escutcheons with female heads have been replaced and possibly the 3 locks. The screw of the mounts replaced. The leather top with cracks and wear. The drawers in walnut with expected cracks.Attractive and elegant model, typical of the Boulle revival during the second half of 18th century.
"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."

This bureau plat is directly inspired by a desk created by André-Charles Boulle during the early 18th century, as evident with a drawing kept in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris (inv. 723B). This model, with diverse variants, was a resounding success that unequivocally influenced other workshops.Traditionally attributed to André-Charles Boulle and his workshop (between 1710-1730), a concurring analysis of the two desks, the one we present and that from the former collection of Etienne Lévy (reproduced in L'oeil, May 1977) auctioned by Sotheby's in New York on 19 November 1993, lot 41, has brought forth numerous analogies which tend to specify their manufacturing date within the same workshop.

An examination of the employed woods and their homogeneity, the construction via cabinet-making techniques, the building and assembling, an identical design with rather unadorned marquetry, the obvious similarities of the bronze casts (same modello), and the different but analogous chisel work on each desk, suggests a production from the same Parisian workshop, being distant from that of André-Charles Boulle. It was probably a workshop active in the mid-18th century specializing in Boulle marquetry (restoration and fabrication), which produced furniture "in the Boulle genre" by reusing ornaments and bronzes created by Boulle (masks of satyrs and of the philosophers Democritus and Heraclitus). No stamp was found on these two desks. If this had been the case, it would have probably reduced the purpose of the cabinetmaker to the rank of simple restorer of Boulle furniture and his workshop. It is impossible today to clarify the origin, even if several cabinetmaker workshops can be cited such as Faizelot-Delorme. We hope that future research and comparisons with other furniture pieces presenting these characteristics will lead to an attribution based on objective criteria.