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Lot Essay
Bernard II van Risen Burgh, maître in 1733.
This table is almost identical to that depicted in the portrait of Madame de Pompadour by François Boucher of 1756. This latter table is subsequently described in the catalogue of the sale of the painter's estate in 1771:-
'1006 - Un vide-poche, fait par Bernard, il est en bois de rose et amarante, le dessus de bois de violette entouré d'un quart de rond, chute, sabots et ornements de bronze doré. Hauteur 25 pouces, longeur 15 pouces 6 lignes, largeur 10 pouces 9 lignes.'
The unusual proportions, which convert to 68 cm. high, 42 cm. wide and 28 cm. deep, correspond closely with the table sold from the Riahi Collection, Christie's New York, 2 November 2000, lot 12 ($424,000). The other recorded tables of this group including the Wildenstein example - have slightly wider and deeper tops.
BVRB'S TABLES EN CHIFFONNIERE
This celebrated model belongs to an identifiable group, all stamped by or attributed to B.V.R.B., which display minor differences in the shape of the apron, the design of the ormolu mounts and the marquetry. From the extant number, it is likely that this group of small bois de bout marquetry tables were all made for sale by the same marchand-mercier, probably Lazare Duvaux, who is known to have supplied furniture by van Risen Burgh to Madame de Pompadour (F.J.B. Watson, The Antique Collector, December 1960, p. 227ff.).
B.V.R.B.'s tables en chiffonnière belong to two distinct groups. The first, with a fixed top, is fitted with at least one, and often more than one writing-surface and the lateral drawer is always fitted with an inkwell. This type of table was, therefore, only ever used for writing and an example of this type is recorded in an inventory of Madame de Pompadour's château de Saint-Hubert:
'Une table à écrire en bois de rose et fleurs de bois de violette ayant par devant un tablette à coulisse couverte de maroquin noir, à droit un tiroir à clef garni d'encrier, poudrier et boite d'éponge.'
The second group, including the Wildenstein example, has a hinged top, enclosing numerous compartments; this can sometimes also be fitted with a writing-surface, in which case the drawer encloses an inkwell. This latter model of table was used by ladies for arranging ribbons and toiletries. The table here belongs to this latter group, of which other examples are recorded, including:- two tables in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (F.J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, New York, 1966, vol. 1, cat. nos. 125 and 126) and another sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30 April 1999, lot 102 ($420,500).
This table is almost identical to that depicted in the portrait of Madame de Pompadour by François Boucher of 1756. This latter table is subsequently described in the catalogue of the sale of the painter's estate in 1771:-
'1006 - Un vide-poche, fait par Bernard, il est en bois de rose et amarante, le dessus de bois de violette entouré d'un quart de rond, chute, sabots et ornements de bronze doré. Hauteur 25 pouces, longeur 15 pouces 6 lignes, largeur 10 pouces 9 lignes.'
The unusual proportions, which convert to 68 cm. high, 42 cm. wide and 28 cm. deep, correspond closely with the table sold from the Riahi Collection, Christie's New York, 2 November 2000, lot 12 ($424,000). The other recorded tables of this group including the Wildenstein example - have slightly wider and deeper tops.
BVRB'S TABLES EN CHIFFONNIERE
This celebrated model belongs to an identifiable group, all stamped by or attributed to B.V.R.B., which display minor differences in the shape of the apron, the design of the ormolu mounts and the marquetry. From the extant number, it is likely that this group of small bois de bout marquetry tables were all made for sale by the same marchand-mercier, probably Lazare Duvaux, who is known to have supplied furniture by van Risen Burgh to Madame de Pompadour (F.J.B. Watson, The Antique Collector, December 1960, p. 227ff.).
B.V.R.B.'s tables en chiffonnière belong to two distinct groups. The first, with a fixed top, is fitted with at least one, and often more than one writing-surface and the lateral drawer is always fitted with an inkwell. This type of table was, therefore, only ever used for writing and an example of this type is recorded in an inventory of Madame de Pompadour's château de Saint-Hubert:
'Une table à écrire en bois de rose et fleurs de bois de violette ayant par devant un tablette à coulisse couverte de maroquin noir, à droit un tiroir à clef garni d'encrier, poudrier et boite d'éponge.'
The second group, including the Wildenstein example, has a hinged top, enclosing numerous compartments; this can sometimes also be fitted with a writing-surface, in which case the drawer encloses an inkwell. This latter model of table was used by ladies for arranging ribbons and toiletries. The table here belongs to this latter group, of which other examples are recorded, including:- two tables in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (F.J.B. Watson, The Wrightsman Collection, New York, 1966, vol. 1, cat. nos. 125 and 126) and another sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30 April 1999, lot 102 ($420,500).