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Lot Essay
This elegant bureau à cylindre is one the masterpieces of Francois-gaspard Teuné, an ébéniste who specialized in the production of luxurious cylinder bureaux in the 1770's. Francois Gaspard Teuné, trained in the workshop of his uncle Jean Popsel (maître in 1755), and with whom he undoubtedly collaborated on the manufacture of pieces for the marchand-ébéniste Pierre II Migeon (maître c.1725). He became master in 1766, and is established in the Faubourg Saint Antoine, first in the Rue Traversiére, and then in the Rue de Charonne. Influenced by the production of the celebrated ébéniste Oeben, his earliest ecrtaire a Cylindre are in the Louis XV style, during the 1770's, Teune adopted the neo-classical fashion. The present secretaire, with its gilt bronze drapery corner mounts and marquetry inspired by antique subjects, is a superb example of this new taste.
Two comparable secretaires by Teuné were supplied to the library of the Comte d' Artois at Versailles in 1775. One en bois de rapport enrichi des armes de Monseigneur et dores d'or moulu (cf. La Folie d'Artois", Exhibition Catalogue, 1988, pp.96 and fig.6.) is now in the royal collection, and is usually considered as one of his masterpieces. The location of the other is unknown. The Comte d'Artois cylinder is mounted with highly comparable bronzes to the present bureau, especially his cord-handles, which Teuné reserved for his most elaborate models.
Another prestigious model, from the Vogue Collections, in the Castle of Vaux le Vicomte, was sold at Christie's Monaco, 17th of June 2000, for 1,302,000 FF. Another one is in the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Strasbourg.
Two comparable secretaires by Teuné were supplied to the library of the Comte d' Artois at Versailles in 1775. One en bois de rapport enrichi des armes de Monseigneur et dores d'or moulu (cf. La Folie d'Artois", Exhibition Catalogue, 1988, pp.96 and fig.6.) is now in the royal collection, and is usually considered as one of his masterpieces. The location of the other is unknown. The Comte d'Artois cylinder is mounted with highly comparable bronzes to the present bureau, especially his cord-handles, which Teuné reserved for his most elaborate models.
Another prestigious model, from the Vogue Collections, in the Castle of Vaux le Vicomte, was sold at Christie's Monaco, 17th of June 2000, for 1,302,000 FF. Another one is in the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Strasbourg.