Important Mobilier, Objets d'art et Orfèvrerie

Important Mobilier, Objets d'art et Orfèvrerie

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 60. A gilt bronze mounted mahogany writing table, signed by Martin Guillaume Biennais, French Empire, circa 1810 | Table à écrire en acajou et bronze doré, signée par Martin Guillaume Biennais, d'époque Empire, vers 1810.

A gilt bronze mounted mahogany writing table, signed by Martin Guillaume Biennais, French Empire, circa 1810 | Table à écrire en acajou et bronze doré, signée par Martin Guillaume Biennais, d'époque Empire, vers 1810

Auction Closed

November 17, 02:54 PM GMT

Estimate

26,000 - 40,000 EUR

Lot Details

Description

A gilt bronze mounted mahogany writing table, signed by Martin Guillaume Biennais, French Empire, circa 1810


the writing top partly lined with black leather, with two ormolu cases and a compartment, the right hand lateral side fitted with revolving drawer for the inkwells, the upright with waders on a plinth, the lock signed "Biennais/M Ebeniste/Au Singe Violet/rue Honoré n°511"


Height 32⅔in; width 26⅓in; prof 18 in; Haut. 83 cm, larg. 67 cm, prof. 46 cm


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Table à écrire en acajou et bronze doré, signée par Martin Guillaume Biennais, d'époque Empire, vers 1810


le plateau en pupitre en partie gainé de cuir noir, muni de deux portes plumes et ouvrant par un abattant découvrant un compartiment, le côté gauche découvrant un tiroir à encriers pivotant, reposant sur quatre échassiers réunis par un socle, la serrure intérieure signée "Biennais/M Ebeniste/Au Singe Violet/rue Honoré n°511"

Please note that the estimates have been lowered for this lot
Related literature:

I. Tamisier- Vétois et al, Catalogue of the exhibition "Meubles à secrets, Secrets de Meubles", Muée national de la Malmaison et Bois Préau, Dijon, 2018, p. 69

Biennais had a thriving workshop employing no fewer than 600 craftsmen.  In addition to silver, Biennais supplied luxurious furniture of all descriptions, much of which was commissioned by the French court for the Palais des Tuileries, Saint Cloud, Rambouillet, Fontainebleau, etc.  He also supplied pieces for the Palais du Gouvernement de la République Française.  Biennais also executed important commissions for the principal courts of Europe and frequently made pieces designed by Percier and Fontaine.

A similar table by Biennais was exhibited at the Château de la Malmaison during the exhibition "Meubles à secrets, Secrets de Meubles" in 2018. The figures of the birds of this model are close to a model of table published by Pierre de la Mésangère in Meubles et Objets de Goût en 1804 (pl. 143).