so-called “bureau plat”, late 19th century, veneered, ebonised hardwood frame with polished finish, in gently curved execution, the frieze, legs and top exquisitely decorated with sheet brass engraved with floral motifs and tortoiseshell marquetry, with bronze female heads (so-called “espagnolettes”) at the four corners, superb cast mascarons on the sides, small mascarons on the drawer fronts, to be opened by means of push buttons, similarly on the sham drawer fronts, top with moulded brass edging and supplemented red leather insert with gold-embossed decor, c. 77 x 145 x 82 cm, in restored condition. (DOC)

The present item is subject to conservation legislation (ASA). This extraordinarily high-quality bureau plat is based on the most influential ornamental furniture of the Louis XIV Régence period. The striking corner bronzes and fine mascaron applications are almost identical to those found in furniture manufactured by A. C. Boulle. An attribution is extremely difficult here, since numerous cabinet-makers of the Belle Epoque attempted high-quality reproductions of the models designed by A. C. Boulle (although only a few of them succeeded), for example Allard, Befort, Beurdeley, Dasson, Diehl, Dromard, Fourdinois, Jeanselme, Krieger, Linke, Monbro, Sormani and Zwiener, to name but a few of the most important among them.