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A pair of gilt-bronze mounted amaranth coquillers in Régence style, in the manner of André-Charles Boulle
Description
- amaranth, gilt-bronze, leather
- Height 83 cm., width 132,5 cm., depth 71 cm. ; Height 32⅔in., width 52¼in., depth 28in.
Provenance
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. 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."
Catalogue Note
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.