Magnificant Cartonnier in the Louis XVI Manner
Magnificant Cartonnier in the Louis XVI Manner
A Magnificent Cartonnier in the Louis XVI Manner after the Original Creation Made by Simon Oeben.
Constructed in kingwood and having extensive parquetry inlay, with well cast and extensive fire gilt bronze enhancements. The writing section of oblong form with re-entrant corners, housing three frieze drawers and with a tooled leather top; the shouldered tapering legs dressed with imbricated bronze mounts: lions masks at the ends: the frame having a guard bronze rail: the cartonnier section housing five leather faced boxes, each side fitted with a small drawer, and a shelved cupoboard, the whole dressed with guilloche bronze mounts; the swept superstructure is surmounted by a gilt bronze clock case, flanked by spandrels, having two patinated bronze putti over, emblematic of the arts. The circular white enamel dial with the hours delineated in Roman numerals, the clock movement of eight day duration, and striking the hours on a bell. A frieze drawer having an engraved brass plaque, reading ‘Ameublements de Style / Meubles, Sieges, Tentures / Au Gros Chêne / 12 Rue Drouot, Paris.
Paris, Circa 1880.
H: 74 in / 188 cm | W:84 in / 212.5 cm | D: 41 in / 104 cm
Price: £POA.
Provenance
Our antique specialist partners have in their possession documents, dated to 1997, which were found in the back of a drawer of the piece, addressed to the Chateau de Cieurac, recorded as a French Building of National Importance, and dating from the 13th Century, suggesting its possible origin.
Literature
This chef d’ouevre of French cabinet making by Simon Oeben was originally made for the Duc du Choisel. A portrait of him seated at the desk was made by Van Blaerenberghe, and is in the V&A . The Desk itself may now be seen in the Chateau de Chantilly. The bureau plat was copied by notable 19th century ébénistes as Linke and Sormani.
The well regarded furnishers ‘Au Gros Chêne’ were situated in 12 Rue Drouot, and today, the site is occupied by the Hôtel Drouot, the exhibition centre of the majority of French art auction houses.