A pair of gilt-bronze mounted amaranth coquillers in Régence style, in the manner of André-Charles Boulle

of oval shape with eighteen drawers, on six curved legs ending in foliate paw feet

Commissioned by Charles de Beistegui for his hôtel particulier rue de Constantine in Paris

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. Good overall condition despite the inevitable minor scratches and marks due to age and use. There are some minor surface scratches to the red leather tops. A few minor lifting and a very few minute losses to the veneer. The gilding has a nice old looking aspect. Highly decorative pieces.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This pair of coquillers is the exact copy of a pair commissioned by Louis-Léon Pajot, Count d'Ons-en-Bray,(1678-1754) who attained the position of Intendant Général des Postes et Relais de France in 1708. After retiring to his residence in Bercy following the death of Louis XIV, he devoted himself to his passion for science, physics and mechanics and he commissioned a pair of coquilliers to exhibit his collection of shells.  This pair were part of the Wildenstein Collection (Christie's sale, London, December 14, 2005, lot 20).

These coquillers, sometimes confused with medal cabinets ('médaillers'), are pieces of furniture which as the name suggests, were used to house and preserve shells. Very few examples have survived, apart from the mahogany cabinet which belonged to Clément Lafaille, now in the Museum of Natural History in La Rochelle and the famous coquiller cabinet made for Ange-Laurent Lalive de Jully, attributed to Joseph Baumhauer, today in a private collection.

The present pair of Régence style coquiller cabinets would have been made for the collector Charles de Beistegui (1895-1970). Son of an ambassador and heir to a Mexican silver mine fortune, he spent his life between several residences which he acquired and redecorated, often with the help of Emilio Terry.  Amongst others, he owned the castle of Groussay in Montfort-l'Amaury, the Labia palace in Venice, an apartment on the Champs-Elysées by Le Corbusier, and a hôtel particulier in rue de Constantine, Paris, the latter of which housed the present pair of coquillier cabinets.