Lot 48
  • 48

A Louis XV/XVI Transitional ormolu-mounted tulipwood, fruitwood and marquetry table en chiffonnière by Nicolas Petit circa 1770, stamped N. Petit JME

Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 USD
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Description

  • ormolu, tulipwood, fruitwood, ivory, oak
  • height 27 1/4 in.; width 12 in.; depth 9 1/2 in..
  • 69 cm; 30.5 cm; 24 cm

Provenance

French and Company, New York, 1956;
The Lesley and Emma Sheafer Collection, Bequest of Emma A. Sheafer, 1973

Condition

Small size; very pretty. Ready to place. Together with a glass panel to protect the top. One key. The top is in generally good condition with an age crack running horizontally through the trophy. Some small chips and losses to veneer; usual scratches and age cracks consistent with use and age.
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

Nicolas Petit (1732-1791, maître in 1761) was born in the northern town of Chaource on May 31, 1732. Establishing himself in the Rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine under the 'Nom de Jesus' in Paris, he quickly gained renown. He worked extensively for marchand merciers, other ébénistes, and an extensive private client list which included the Duc d’Orléans and the Duc de Bouillon. 
Petit was known for his production of occasional tables, such as the present example. According to his inventory listing, almost half of his stock was made up of small tables. However, the majority of the 289 small tables listed were in mahogany or walnut. Only six were in marquetry and only three in floral marquetry, making the present table a rare and important work from Petit's oeuvre. Musical trophies, as seen on the present example, are a key motif throughout Petit's career. Musical trophies adorn Petit's commodes, as illustrated in Anne Droguet, Nicolas Petit, Paris, 2001, p. 54. A very similar trophy is on a Petit commode in the Musée Lambinet, Versailles and illustrated, ibid., pg. 85. 
An almost identical table en chiffonnière from the collection of Mr. T.F. Hagerman of Newport Rhode Island was sold Sotheby's London, June 28, 1965, lot 116.