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AN IMPORTANT RÉGENCE ORMOLU-MOUNTED, BRASS AND TORTOISESHELL-INLAID BUREAU PLAT, ATTRIBUTED TO BVRB I circa 1710-1715
Estimate
300,000 - 500,000 USD
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Description
- walnut, oak, velvet, brass, bronze, tortoiseshell
- height 31 1/2 in.; width 47 in.; depth 26 3/4 in.
- 80 cm; 119.5 cm; 68 cm
Condition
With scattered age and construction cracks, dents and abrasions. Tortoiseshell inlay with fine age cracks, minor losses, minor buckling and some restorations and infills. Brass inlay with minor buckling and very minor lifting with the most extensive lifting to lower right corner of central drawer. Ormolu with minor traces of oxidation and surface dirt. Some areas with rubbing; most to ormolu band around top. Underside with very minor old worm damage, handing side draweres with later rails. Top removable, back with tears, abrasions and wear to later velvet backing. n good overall condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
A virtually identical Boulle marquetry top may be seen on a bureau in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (inv. 372-1901). This bureau is part of the "Louis XIV group" identified by Jean-Nérée Ronfort and Jean-Dominique Augarde in their article "Le Mâitre du bureau de l'Electeur," L'Estampille, January 1991, pp. 42-74 and is illustrated p. 58. The authors propose that this group may be attributed to "Le Mâitre de l'Electeur," who has been identified as Bernard Ier van Risamburgh (c.1660-1738).
The aforementioned celebrated bureau made for Elector Maximilien II Emmanuel of Bavaria, delivered after 1715, is now in the Louvre (Ronfort, op. cit., p. 49). It belongs to the "Regence group" discussed by Messrs. Ronfort and Augarde and attributed to the same maker. This Regence group is characterised by sinuous forms, the use of brown tortoiseshell and tightly scrolled brass inlay. These include a commode c. 1719 delivered for Louis-Charles de Machault, a bureau plat (F. 59) in the Wallace Collection, and a bureau in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris (Renfort, op. cit., pp. 44 and 47).
The Saperstein bureau combines elements from each of these groups reinforcing this attribution to this maker and suggesting a date which represents a transitional phase between the two groups.
The aforementioned celebrated bureau made for Elector Maximilien II Emmanuel of Bavaria, delivered after 1715, is now in the Louvre (Ronfort, op. cit., p. 49). It belongs to the "Regence group" discussed by Messrs. Ronfort and Augarde and attributed to the same maker. This Regence group is characterised by sinuous forms, the use of brown tortoiseshell and tightly scrolled brass inlay. These include a commode c. 1719 delivered for Louis-Charles de Machault, a bureau plat (F. 59) in the Wallace Collection, and a bureau in the Musée des Arts Decoratifs, Paris (Renfort, op. cit., pp. 44 and 47).
The Saperstein bureau combines elements from each of these groups reinforcing this attribution to this maker and suggesting a date which represents a transitional phase between the two groups.