A LOUIS XV/XVI TRANSITIONAL ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, AMARANTH, FRUITWOOD AND MARQUETRY BONHEUR DU JOUR circa 1775, stamped twice C. Topino JME

Sotheby's London, December 13, 2000, lot 133
Bernard Steinitz, Paris

Sylvain Barbier Sainte Marie, Charles Topino, Paris, 2005, p. 67

With scattered age and construction cracks, dents and abrasions. Largest age cracks to underside of undertier; now with infill and secured with larger pieces of wood. Underside with old worm damage. Veneer and marquetry with age and construction cracks, scattered restorations, small patches, minor losses and filled in old woem damage holes. Back with Sun fading. Refinished. Leather inlay with losses, cracks and scuffs. Ormolu with rubbing, oxidation and surface dirt, gallery with small restored break with very minor loss. In otherwise good 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.

This type of bonheur-du-jour was one of the most enduringly popular designs of Charles Topino and seemingly he had the monopoly of this design. The chinoiserie still-lives depicting cups, saucers and utensils derive from motifs that decorated Chinese Coromandel lacquer screens. These seem to have been particularly popular between 1770 and 1775. The present bonheur-du-jour is identical to a model in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris (see 'Les Ebénistes du XVIIIe siècle Français' in Connaissance des Arts, Paris, 1963, p. 269, fig. 2) and one illustrated by Pierre Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIII Siècle, Paris, 1998, p. 842, fig.B. For another example see C. Parker, Paris Furniture, Newport, 1956, fig. 76, which sold Parke Bernet, The Collection of Mrs. Henry Walters, April 26, 1941, lot 687 and subsequently sold again Sotheby's New York, The Garbische Collection, May 17, 1980, lot 318. A pair of bonheurs-du-jour were sold Sotheby's Monaco, June 23, 1985, lot 781 and two sold Sotheby's New York, October 28, 1995, lots 125 and 126. And finally, one was sold Christie's London, S. Michael Sobell Collection, June 23, 1994, lot 159.