A Louis XVI ormolu-mounted amaranth bureau plat circa 1765, attributed to René Dubois

the rectangular top fitted with a leather writing surface and surrounded by an ormolu border, the frieze fitted with two drawers and veneered all around to form a stylized Greek key motif, fitted with ribbon-tied oval keyhole escutcheons, centered by lion's masks, the corners with ormolu drapery clasps, raised on square tapered legs headed by ormolu paterae, ending in spirally fluted toupie feet.



Marked under one drawer 52917.

Partridge Fine Arts, London

Acquired from the above, 1981

The model of this small bureau plat is, in the absence of a maker's stamp, invariably attributed to either René Dubois (1737-1799) or to his cousin and frequent collaborator, Philippe-Claude Montigny (1734-1800).  This model has become an important icon of the gôut grec style of furniture which emerged circa 1754-55 with the production of the celebrated bureau plat made for Ange-Laurent Lalive de Jully, from designs by le Lorrain.  The gôut grec style evolved into the early neo-classic, and then fully neo-classic styles which would become associated with the ancien régime.

Tables of this design, with small variations, have been recorded stamped by both Dubois and Montigny.  However, the unusual spirally fluted ormolu feet found on the present table and which are echoes of the work of André-Charles Boulle, appear on only two other examples; one of which is stamped by René Dubois, formerly in the Hillingdon collection and sold at Christie's, London, June 29th, 1972, lot 83.  It is, in fact, identical to the present table in virtually every detail, the design of the frieze, the ormolu corner mounts, escutcheons and lion's head with ring in the center of the frieze.  Unlike the present lot, the legs are not outlined with beading.  The second table, unstamped, with identical frieze design, the same drapery swags at the corners but different escutcheons, and with legs outlined by identical borders was sold Sotheby's, London, June 8, 2005, lot 51.  Only one other table actually stamped by Dubois seems to be recorded, formerly in the collection of Mme Lazard it was sold in Paris, December 6, 1977, lot 167.

Comparable tables include: two attributed to Montigny, one sold, Sotheby's, Monaco, February 26, 1992, lot 221, and the other sold December 12, 1998, lot 36; with different frieze and legs mounts.  A table stamped Montigny with different frieze marquetry, and different mounts was sold, Christie's, New York, November 2, 2000, lot 266.  Another stamped Montigny, with different frieze, leg mounts and feet sold, Sotheby's, Paris, June 23, 2004, lot 80.

The spirally fluted legs found on the present table also appear on other pieces of furniture made by Montigny, e.g. slightly fatter spirally fluted legs in the manner of Boulle, on a secrétaire à abattant in the J. Paul Getty Museum, illustrated,  Alexandre Pradère, Les ébénistes Français de Louis XIV à la révolution, Paris, 1989, p. 307, no. 347; see also an unusual lacquer veneered armoire-secrétaire stamped Montigny, raised on feet which appear to be identical to those on the present lot, sold, Sotheby's, Monaco, December 3, 1994, lot 346.