Emmanuel-Alfred Beurdeley Furniture

Antique French marquetry, ormolu and jasperware Bureau du Roi by Beurdeley French, c. 1890 Height 151cm, width 190cm, depth 100cm The Bureau du Roi, also known as the secrétaire à cylindre, is among the most celebrated masterpieces of 18th century furniture design—an unparalleled example of French craftsmanship and regal opulence. Originally commissioned by King Louis XV in 1760, the project was entrusted to ébéniste du roi Jean-François Oeben (1721–1763). However, Oeben passed away before its completion and his successor, Jean-Henri Riesener (1734-1806), finalised the desk in 1769. During the 19th century, several master cabinetmakers sought to replicate this extraordinary creation, including the esteemed Emmanuel Alfred Beurdeley (1847–1919). The present example, produced circa 1890, was exhibited at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where it garnered admiration for its exceptional artistry. Following the exhibition, it was acquired by financier George Jay Gould I (1864–1923) and later photographed in the Lakewood, New Jersey residence of his wife, actress Edith Kingdon Gould (1864–1921). This magnificent desk is crowned with a decorative clock, draped in festoons and accompanied by two playful putti and a finely sculpted dog. Twin ormolu urns rest atop an openwork gallery, leading to additional flower-filled ormolu vases. Flanking the central roll-top panel are finely cast ormolu figures of Apollo and Calliope, each supporting a twin-light scrolling acanthus candelabrum. With a turn of a key, the roll-top slides open to reveal an exquisite arrangement of three pull-out shelves and three drawers, each front panel adorned with delicate ormolu banding and intricate floral trellis parquetry. A gilt-tooled leather writing surface unfolds, featuring a pop-up central panel that lifts to reveal a folding folio stand alongside three additional storage compartments. Below, a central kneehole drawer, embellished with an ormolu bow, is flanked by twin-divided drawers, all decorated with finely detailed floral marquetry. Every aspect of this Bureau du Roi is a testament to superior craftsmanship, featuring elaborate marquetry and parquetry designs. The upper section consists of three panels, with the tambour roll-top inlaid with intricate mythological motifs. Two side medallions bear Latin inscriptions drawn from Cesare Ripa’s Iconologia (1555–1622): NON. NISI. GRANDIA. CANTO. / IRRIDENS. CUSPIDE. FIGO. and BREVI. COMPLECTOR. SINGULA. CANO / PASTORUM. CARMINA. LUDO. These decorative elements, along with the marquetry on the roll-top and upper surfaces, celebrate the arts, literature, and architecture. The bombé sides of the desk are richly decorated with marquetry panels depicting symbols of both naval and terrestrial warfare, framed by elegant ormolu laurel swags. These ornamental details complement a series of exquisite blue and white Wedgwood Jasperware medallions...

An Extremally Rare and Large Pair of 19th Century French Louis XVI Style Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Seven-Arm Candelabra, by Alfred Beurdeley, Originally Designed by François Rémond...

Signed on the dial A. Beurdeley Paris Mechanism signed J LEFEBVRE FILS PARIS Rare Louis XVI style clock in mercury-gilded and patinated chiseled bronze and white marble. In the form of an arched pediment, it is decorated with four Cupids, two carrying a garland of flowers highlighting the dial, and two others symbolizing the coronation of Science. The molded base in white marble, with a double recess, is decorated with a ribboned torus, a frieze of ribboned oak leaves and interlacing, and rests on six flattened ball feet. Related work : In 1774, the bronze-caster Robert Osmond (1711-1789) designed a first model known as “architectural drawing” illustrating The Coronation of Science. Also called The Children of France, it is decorated with a putti crowning a young girl drawing with a compass and delivered to Versailles by Lépine, clockmaker to the King since 1762, for the apartment of Madame Royale in the Princes’ Wing, on December 28, 1778. (see photo attached) This clock is described in the inventory of Versailles clocks...

A fine quality 19th Century French Plum pudding Mahogany, brass inlaid centre table, having four hinged compartments to the frieze, a frieze drawers with gilded ormolu mouldings, and...

A Magnificent Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry ‘Table Des Muses’ By Beurdeley Emmanuel-Alfred Beurdeley Also widely known as the “Arts and Sci...

A Fine Pair of Louis XVI Style gilt and patinated bronze four-light wall-appliques By Emmanuel-Alfred (dit Alfred II) Beurdeley, Paris. Each modelled with a bare-breaded classical robed figure flanked by two pairs of scrolling branches. The figure standing on a bracket against vine-wrapped thyrsus with foliate trails below. Stamped to the reverse ‘BY’ France, Circa 1880. Provenance: Collection Pierre...

We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptionally rare Alfred Beurdeley (1847-1919) Paris fully stamped Tulip and Kingwood with bronze mounts jewelry casket on stand This is one of the finest jewelry caskets I have ever seen, the quality is second to none, if you search works by Berurdeley you will see multiple pieces in the hundreds of thousands of pounds, these are some of the best and most collectable original handmade master craftsman pieces ever conceived. A Japanese lacquered cabinet of similar form made by Beurdeley which was larger sold in Sothebys in June last year for 216,125 Euros including fees The cabinet is made with bookmatched Tulip and Kingwood with gilt bronze mounts all-over, the leather top is the original which is nicely aged, there is also a functioning key which is needed to access the drop front Condition wise this piece has been cleaned waxed and polished, I have left the overall finish original however it can be fully restored to include a strip back and French polish should the new owners wish, this restoration would be completed at the new owners expense. On inspection I can see two panels which have timber shrinkage splits, there are some patina marks to the top and general patina marks Dimensions: Height 100.5cm Width 41.5cm Depth 31cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point Alfred Beurdeley, 1847-1919 Nationality: French Date of Birth: 1847 Place of Birth: Paris Place of Death: Paris Identity: Emmanuel-Alfred Beurdeley was a collector who came from a family of cabinetmakers, antique dealers and collectors. He was the illegitimate son of Louis-Auguste-Alfred Beurdeley (1808–82). His grandfather, Jean Beurdeley (1772–1853), who served in Napoleon's army, opened a small antique shop in the Marais district of Paris. In 1830 he bought the Pavillon de Hanovre, 28 Boulevard des Italiens, which became the Beurdeley firm's principal gallery until 1894. L.-A.-A. Beurdeley dealt in antiques and works of art and was also a cabinetmaker specializing in reproductions of seventeenth and eighteenth Century Furniture. His clients included Napoleon III and the Empress Eugénie. Life: In 1875 E.-A. Beurdeley took over his family's gallery and workshops and until 1894 concentrated on continuing the line of luxury furniture sold by his father. He was one of the most important Parisian cabinetmakers, and won a Gold Medal at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1878. He was appointed Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1893 following the Universal Exhibition in Amsterdam. In 1895 he closed the Pavillon de Hanovre and retired to his hôtel in the Rue de Clichy. The rest of his life was spent acquiring and selling enormous collections of furniture, Chinese porcelain, paintings and drawings, including an extraordinary group of eighteenth century French drawings by François Boucher, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Nicolas Lancret and Antoine Watteau in 1905. He also owned JW's La Dormeuse...