.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This sideboard includes elements that are direct copies of pieces formerly in the Collection of Charles Gillot (1853-1903). Although fashioned of metal rather than wood, the star panels that decorate the shelf of the sideboard, are identical to the late 13th century Mamluk example that was part of Gillot’s collection and very close to elements of the panels of the minbar of al-Salih Tala'i, built by Emir Baktimur al-Jukandar in 1299 (sold Christie’s, Paris, 4 March 2008, lot 44). The vertical panels with the central cross motif bears close resemblance to those found on the Coptic ivory inlaid wooden door panel also in Gillot’s collection and sold in the same sale, lot 45.
The near-identical nature of both of these individual elements to pieces in Charles Gillot’s collection suggests that the maker was intimately familiar with the collection at the time that he designed this piece. It is very likely that the maker of this sideboard was the decorative artist Eugène Grasset (1845-1917). He was a great friend of Gillot’s, having illustrated many books produced in Gillot’s printing house, and sharing a passion for Japanese art. In around 1880 Gillot commissioned Grasset to make an entire set of furniture to decorate his house in Paris, and twenty-five years later Gillot’s daughter, Louise-Marcelle Gillot-Seure (1884-1958), nostalgic for her childhood, commissioned a second set. Several pieces from these sets were sold in the Christie’s Gillot sale (Paris, 4 March 2008, lots 226, 315, 317-320 and 323). Others are now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. One of those now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a sideboard dresser, not dissimilar in form to that offered here (inv.41690). Like ours it is also constructed of different materials including carved oak, wrought iron and, in that case, canvas.
The five Iznik tiles that decorate the lower half of this sideboard, as well as three of the eight pentagonal fragments in the upper half are of similar design to tiles sold at Sotheby’s, 9 April 2014, lot 127 and more recently at Christie's London, 21 April 2016, lot 176. A related tile panel though with the cloud bands alternated with complicated floral palmettes is in the David Collection (5/1964; Kjeld von Folsach, Art from the World of Islam in the David Collection, Copenhagen, 2001, no.270). That is attributed to circa 1575.
The near-identical nature of both of these individual elements to pieces in Charles Gillot’s collection suggests that the maker was intimately familiar with the collection at the time that he designed this piece. It is very likely that the maker of this sideboard was the decorative artist Eugène Grasset (1845-1917). He was a great friend of Gillot’s, having illustrated many books produced in Gillot’s printing house, and sharing a passion for Japanese art. In around 1880 Gillot commissioned Grasset to make an entire set of furniture to decorate his house in Paris, and twenty-five years later Gillot’s daughter, Louise-Marcelle Gillot-Seure (1884-1958), nostalgic for her childhood, commissioned a second set. Several pieces from these sets were sold in the Christie’s Gillot sale (Paris, 4 March 2008, lots 226, 315, 317-320 and 323). Others are now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. One of those now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a sideboard dresser, not dissimilar in form to that offered here (inv.41690). Like ours it is also constructed of different materials including carved oak, wrought iron and, in that case, canvas.
The five Iznik tiles that decorate the lower half of this sideboard, as well as three of the eight pentagonal fragments in the upper half are of similar design to tiles sold at Sotheby’s, 9 April 2014, lot 127 and more recently at Christie's London, 21 April 2016, lot 176. A related tile panel though with the cloud bands alternated with complicated floral palmettes is in the David Collection (5/1964; Kjeld von Folsach, Art from the World of Islam in the David Collection, Copenhagen, 2001, no.270). That is attributed to circa 1575.