A fine and rare gilt-bronze mounted rosewood, tulipwood and fruitwood marquetry bonheur-du- jour, attributed to Monoury, Revel Napoleon III, dated 1892

of bombé form, the upper section inlaid with moulded medallions enclosing various flowers and foliation, with a central cupboard door marquetted with a cartouche enclosing a goose herd, the reverse with two armorial shields, all raised on scrolling supports mounted with gilt-bronze paterae, the base with a moulded top inlaid with another coat-of-arms below a female mask and above a male vegetative mask, flanked by scrolling acanthus and flowers, above a frieze drawer and a cupboard door, the latter inlaid with a young woman dressed in 18th century costume, enclosed by rocaille embellished with strings of flowers, the reverse with a cherub, the sides inlaid with moulded panels enclosing various flowers, above a moulded and wavy apron, on scroll feet with gilt-bronze sabots, together with a letter written by the maker and signed by all the previous owners of the bonheur

Alexandre Monoury, trained in the ateliers of Versailles, moved to Revel in 1888 and was the first to set up business as a furniture maker in this French village, nowadays known for its successful furniture trade. The descendants of Alexandre Monoury are still living in the village of Revel and are, until the present day, active as antique dealers.

The arms are those of ESTIENNE, of Paris (J.B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda 1886, vol. I, p. 631).