A Louis XIV brass-mounted Boulle marquetry bibliothèque circa 1700

with a rectangular molded cornice and ogee frieze above a pair of glazed cupboard doors, raised on a plinth base; veneered with panels of Boulle marquetry with brass and brown tortoiseshell incorporating putti, masks, chimeras, foliate arabesques and strapwork.

The presence of Sageot's stamp of a small group of bookcases of virtually identical design supports the attribution of this maker to the present piece.

Nicolas Sageot's production seems to have principally consisted of armoires, commodes and bureaux.  He was one of the few cabinet-maekrs of his era to occasionally sign his work, nevertheless for many years his production has been confused with that of his contemporary André-Charles Boulle.  The fact that certain of Sageot's pieces are stamped has enabled us to distinguish his work from that of his celebrated colleague.

The present bookcase is similar in overall design to one stamped Sageot, sold, Sotheby's, New York, May 25, 2000, lot 322.  It can also be compared with a pair of bookcases, sold, Sotheby's, Paris, March 24, 2005, lot 21, also stamped by Sageot.  They have identically decorated borders around the doors, but the Paris examples have lost the marquetry which would have decorated the sides.  The side panels on the present piece appear to be identical to those on an armoire, attributed to Sageot, formerly in a private collection, New York, Sotheby's, October 27, 2001, lot 164.