Antique George IV Boulle Marquetry Inkstand circa 1820

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Antique George IV Boulle Marquetry Inkstand circa 1820

About the Item

This is an absolutely stunning antique George IV red tortoiseshell and brass marquetry 'Boulle' inkstand, made from rosewood, circa 1820 in date. The set was expertly inlaid with brass scrolling foliate stylised foliage decoration in red tortoiseshell. There is a beautiful quill tray and two engraved brass lidded glass ink pots flanking a central sand compartment with a brass candlestick. The ink pots are enhanced by traces of red and black ink, a testimony to its history as a writing accessory. This is a beautiful object which is sure to attract a lot of attention. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 14 x Width 35 x Depth 22 Dimensions in inches: Height 5 inches x Width 1 foot, 2 inches x Depth 9 inches André-Charles Boulle (1642 – 1732 ), was the French cabinetmaker who is generally considered to be the preeminent artist in the field of marquetry. His fame in marquetry led to his name being given to a fashion of inlaying known as Boulle (or in 19th-century Britain, Buhl work). Boulle appears to have been originally a painter, since the first payment to him by the crown of which there is any record (1669) specifies ouvrages de peinture. He was employed for many years at Versailles, where the mirrored walls, the floors of wood mosaic, the inlaid paneling and the marquetery furniture in the Cabinet du Dauphin were regarded as his most remarkable work. These rooms were long since dismantled and their contents dispersed, but Boulle's drawings for the work are in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. His royal commissions were numerous, as we learn both from the Comptes des B timents du Roi and from the correspondence of Louvois. Not only the most magnificent of French monarchs, but foreign princes and the great nobles and financiers of his own country crowded to him with commissions, and the mot of the abbé de Marolles, Boulle y lourne en ovale, has become a stock quotation in the literature of French cabinetmaking. Tortoiseshell is a material produced mainly from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, an endangered species. It was widely used until the 1970s in the manufacture of items such as combs, sunglasses, guitar picks and knitting needles. In 1973, the trade of tortoiseshell worldwide was banned under CITES. Tortoiseshell was attractive to manufacturers and consumers because of its beautiful appearance and its durability, and its organic warmth against the skin. Piqué-work, jewellery made from tortoiseshell inlaid with precious metals in patterns or pictures, was made during the Victorian Era and was highly prized. Our reference: 06476w

Dimensions:
Height: 5.52 in (14 cm)Width: 13.78 in (35 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Place of Origin:
England
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 064761stDibs: LU95062216452