Pair of 19th Century Boulle Style Cabinets

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Pair of 19th Century Boulle Style Cabinets

About the Item

This exquisite pair of French cabinets bears the unmistakable decoration known as Boulle marquetry. Accented with finely cast doré bronze mounts in the form of putti herms and grotesque masks, these exceptional glass-front cabinets are adorned with the most intricate tortoiseshell and etched ormolu inlay, while granite tops of the deepest black and pedestal feet complete this elegant design. Boulle marquetry, developed and perfected by André-Charles Boulle during the 17th century, is an elaborate design of gilded brass and tortoiseshell cut into arabesque and floral designs resulting in an exquisite finish. Prized among collectors for its intricacy and timeless appeal, Boulle marquetry is at its best on piece such as these cabinets. To find a pair of such beautifully crafted pieces is quite rare. circa 1860. Measures: 28 3/4" wide x 14 1/8" deep x 41 1/2" high. Boulle marquetry was introduced by Boulle during the reign of Louis XIV, and was favored for adorning furnishings and decorative objects because of its extravagance, beauty and uniqueness. Boulle came to the forefront of cabinetmaking in France at a time when it was immersed in the most brilliant period of sumptuary magnificence that any nation has known in modern times. Keen on the delights of the eye, Louis XIV had turned the thoughts of his courtiers to domestic splendors that had hitherto been rare. The spacious palaces that arose in this time called for a style that was characterized by sumptuous materials, exquisite craftsmanship, a profusion of classical motifs, and a strict formality of organization, all of which Boulle embodied. Christened by his contemporaries as “the most skillful artisan in Paris” by the age of 30, Boulle was granted by the king the royal privilege of lodging in the Palais du Louvre. In the same year, he achieved the title of cabinetmaker and sculptor to the king. Boulle’s pieces furnished royal palaces in France including the Louvre and Versailles, and his products were widely sought-after and exported across the continent. Today, many of his finest pieces are housed in the most prominent museums throughout England, Vienna and the United States.

Dimensions:
Height: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Width: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)Depth: 14.13 in (35.9 cm)
Sold As:
Set of 2
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1860
Condition:
Seller Location:
New Orleans, LA
Reference Number:
Seller: 30-02991stDibs: LU89111029206