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A rare French Louis XIV large pewter and fruitwood inlaid marquetry desk
About the Item
A rare French Louis XIV large pewter and fruitwood inlaid marquetry desk called “bureau Mazarin” attributed to Pierre Gole (1620 – 1684)
Dimensions : h. 32.68 in, w. 70.8 in, d. 35.43 in.
Late 17th century
This unusually large rectangular desk is inlaid with marquetry of holly, pearwood, boxwood on ebonized wood background. The corners as well as separations between drawers are inlaid with pewter on ebonized wood background.
It is raised on square section eight legs, which are connected by two flat, X-shaped stretchers. In the middle of the front is a recessed drawer, and to either side are cupboards containing three drawers.
The rectangular leather-lined top within a flower-decorated border depicting acanthus leaves, mascarons, scrolls.
The large panels on the reverse of the desk are adorned in marquetry depicting large urns standing on foliage and scroll bases, filled with flowers : peonies, anemones and others.
The right and left sides panels are adorned with symmetrically placed flower branches erupting from foliage bouquet.
The interlaced stretchers possess marquetry decor of flowers garlands following the stretchers form.
Designed in the pure Louis XIV manner, this exceptionnal bureau mazarin's marquetry panels are inspired by the oeuvre of Jean-Baptiste Monnoyer (d. 1699) and relate to engravings published by Androuet Du Cerceau, apointed Dessinatuer to Louis XIV circa 1690. Monnoyer's work was subsequently popularised by Daniel Marot in his Nouveaux Livres de Tableaux de portes et cheminées.
Our desk is attributed to Pierre Gole, one of the most famous French cabintmaker. Due to his Dutch origin he brings the art of the floral marquetry from Holland to France. Working for the king, he produced the most exquisite furniture of Louis XIV period, especially cabinets and desks.
In his archive record there are found numerous mentions of small and big desks (the largest of 6 feet), such as the desk we’re offering. His large desks possessed the tops lined with leather or velvet.
Extremely rare, a few similar Louis XIV desks with floral marquetry are known to the art market.
• Sotheby’s Monaco, 04/03/1989 (h. 30.7 in, w. 70.86 in, d. 33.46 in)
• Christie’s London, 12/06/2002, Balfour collection (h. 31.5 in, w.77 inches d. 32 in.)
• Christie’s Paris, 19/11/2010 (h. 31 in.; w. 70 in.; d. 34 in.)
Related literature:
Pierre Gole, ébeniste de Louis XIV, Théodor Herman Lunsingh Scheurleer, pub. 2005
André-Charles Boulle Ebeniste ciseleur et marqueteur du Roy - Ramond Pierre – Vial, pub. 2010.
Page 74 illustrated very similar bureau Mazarin
Interestingly, the term of Bureau Mazarin probably refers to a type of bureau that was first commissioned by Mazarin and executed by Pierre Gole (circa 1620 - 1684) for Louis XIV. Mazarin never possessed such a bureau in his collections. Bureaux mazarins were inlaid either with floral marquetry, with a combination of naturalistic flowers and acanthus scrolls, or with Boulle marquetry in premire or contre-partie. Early works of André-Charles Boulle were however executed in floral marquetry
Pierre Golle 1620 - 1684
Pierre Golle was born in Holland and moved to Paris at an early age. By 1645 he had married the daughter of a cabinet maker, Adrian Garbran and took over the responsibility of running the workshop when his father in law died in 1650. He invented the technique of decorating furniture with marquetry of tortoiseshell and brass which was subsequently used by his son in law Andre-Charles Boulle. Before being taken under the Royal Patronage in 1656 Golle had worked for Cardinal Mazarin for whom this desk is named for. From 1662, he supplied marquetry cabinets and numerous other pieces of case furniture for the King and the Grand Dauphin at Versailles and other royal châteaux, the most expensive of which were several cabinets delivered at the outstanding sum of 6000 livres a piece. He was related to the Huguenot designer Daniel Marot both by being married to Pierre Golle’s brother’s daughter and by being the son of his wife’s sister. Pierre Golle son emigrated after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and by 1689 was working with the London cabinetmaker Gerrit Jensen, supplying marquetry furniture in the latest Parisian taste to the court of William and Mary.
- Attributed to:Pierre Gole (Cabinetmaker)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.68 in (83.01 cm)Width: 70.8 in (179.84 cm)Depth: 35.43 in (90 cm)
- Style:Louis XIV (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:Late 17th Century
- Date of Manufacture:unknown
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Leather top previously used (some spots and scratches) Locks and escutcheons have been changed in 19th century.
- Seller Location:PARIS, FR
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8168236784611
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