Classic Design: Furniture, Clocks, Silver & Ceramics

Classic Design: Furniture, Clocks, Silver & Ceramics

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 20. Royal: A Louis XVI tulipwood and amaranth bureau-plat, circa 1780, attributed to Claude-Charles Saunier.

Royal: A Louis XVI tulipwood and amaranth bureau-plat, circa 1780, attributed to Claude-Charles Saunier

UK: Greenford Park WarehouseRestricted Species

Lot Closed

November 12, 01:20 PM GMT

Estimate

50,000 - 80,000 GBP

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Lot Details

Description

with three frieze drawers to one side, the opposite side with dummy drawers, each end with a pull-out leather lined slide, the underside with various labels and marks including a crown above three fleur-de-lys, ink stencil marks 'EC 78' and 'EC' (possibly for the Ecuries of the Palais des Tuileries), 'B 157' (for Villa Eugénie, Biarritz), a paper label inscribed 'Paris Austerlitz' and two metal inventory labels '108' and 'Eigentum Dr. R. K.', mounts possibly later


78.5cm high, 194.5cm wide, 97cm deep; 30 7/8in., 76 5/8in., 38 1/8in.

This lot contains endangered species. Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict or prohibit the import of certain items to protect wildlife conservation. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of this lot to the US. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

Probably at the Palais des Tuileries during the Restoration period, circa 1820;

With Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie at Villa Eugénie, Biarritz in 1858;

Moved circa 1881 to Farnborough Hill, Hampshire, the English country home of the Empress Eugénie until her death in 1920;

By descent to Victor, Prince Napoléon, 3rd Prince of Montifort (1862-1926), thence on his death to Princess Clémentine of Belgium (1872-1955) and the head of the family Louis (1914-1997);

Sold by Hampton & Sons, Farnborough Hill, 18th-26th July 1927, lot 265 purchased for 340 guineas by the Parisian dealer Martin Bacri;

According to inventory number '108' on the underside, in the collection of Dr. R. K;

Sold by the antique gallery of Bernard Oberson, Grandes Époques S. A. Antiquitiés, Objets d'Art, in Geneva, 28th July 1972 for 180,000 Swiss Francs;

In the Estate of a Collector, Heath House, Hampshire.

Musée National des Châteaux de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison. "Exposition 1928 de Napoléon 1er à Napoléon III: Souvenirs de la famille impériale, conservés par l'impératrice Eugénie dans sa résidence de Farnborough et provenant de sa succession," 1928.

Listed on the first inventory of the Villa Eugénie, Biarritz, 25th November 1858, under no.157, in the 'Cabinet de travail de L'Empereur': 'Un Bureau en bois de rose et palissandre, style Louis XVI...., 195cm 98cm' [Archives Nationales, Paris, AJ/19/1110]


Sale Catalogue, Hampton & Sons, 'Farnborough Hill', 18th-26th July 1927, under lot 265, in the 'First Floor-The Princess's Sitting Room': 'A Louis XVI library table, From the Royal Mobilier’.


Musée National des Châteaux de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison. "Exposition 1928 de Napoléon 1er à Napoléon III: Souvenirs de la famille impériale, conservés par l'impératrice Eugénie dans sa résidence de Farnborough et provenant de sa succession," exhibition catalogue, 1928, under item 81 'Table-Bureau, en bois de rose et bois de violette, Époque Louis XVI’ (illustrated)


RELATED LITERATURE

"Claude-Charles Saunier", in Connaissance des Arts, March 1969, n.205, pp.78-83.

Clothilde Fontana, ‘Claude-Charles Saunier’ in L’Estampille/L’Objet d’Art, October 2002, n.373, pp.70-82.

Sylvie Legrand-Rossi, Le Mobilier du Musée Nissim de Camondo, pp.98-99.

Marie-Noel de Gary, Musée Nissim de Camondo, Le Demeure d’un collectionneur, pp.232-233.