A Celebration of Parisian Style

André-Charles Boulle is known for the marquetry he created for the Palace of Versailles, but also for the decorative motifs he used that became the signature of Louis-XIV fashion. Busts of women, mascarons, and marquetry featuring materials such as pewter, bass and tortoiseshell. No expense or embellishment was spared in making Versailles the capital of the arts.

André-Charles Boulle and the Louis XIV Style

Fitted with an ingenious mechanism that allows a tier of drawers to be opened from the middle of the top, this table belongs to the family of furniture with transformations that would be developed a few years later by Jean-François Oeben. As on a very similar table stamped by Latz from the collections of the duc de Penthièvre at the Château de Sceaux the Penthièvre, the marquetry is typical of Latz production, with a delicate, polychrome floral composition set off by contrasting backgrounds in rosewood and amaranth.

Secret Furniture During the Reign of Louis XV

This collection presents a selection of the best furniture from the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods, including a sofa by Marie-Antoinette's favorite artist Georges Jacob; a pair of chairs made by Claude Sené, one of the best artists of the late 1780s; a pair of armchairs made for the château de Chanteloup, property of the duc de Choiseul, one of Louis XV’s most important ministers; as well as a Louis XV caned desk armchair also by Georges Jacob and this set of four armchairs made by Louis I Cresson. All these furniture makers used to work for Versailles and are now part of major public and private collections around the world.

The Art of Making Furniture

Paris

For assistance with bidding and registration, please contact: +33 (0) 1 53 05 53 48 
 
 <a class="Link" href="mailto:bids.paris@sothebys.com">bids.paris@sothebys.com</a>

Stay informed with Sotheby’s top stories, videos, events &amp; news.

Sotheby's presents a selection of impressive pieces from an important Parisian private collection, combining fine furniture and old master paintings.&nbsp; The auction will feature an exquisite Boulle marquetry commode with unusual decoration, a Louis XV table à mécanisme attributed to the famous cabinet maker Pierre Latz, as well as a pair of Louis XVI lacquered bergères delivered to the château de Chanteloup for the duc de Choiseul. The old master paintings comprise a group of German and Dutch paintings from the 16th and 17th century.

Oeuvres choisies / Une Collection Parisienne