Lot Essay
The design for this chandelier is directly inspired by an engraving published by the ornemaniste, Daniel Marot in 1710 in his "Nouveau Livre d'Orfèvrerie" (reproduced in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, 1986, p.50, fig. 1.6.1).
This chandelier includes many characteristics of Boulle's work. The medallions of the Roman emperors intersperced with the espagnolette masks are found on examples in the sale of M. de Billy, 16 November 1784, lot 193, in the Victoria & Albert Museum (165-1885), the J. Paul Getty Museum (26 DF 13) and the Musée du Louvre (Donation Grog-Carven). Closely related examples were sold Couturier Nicolay, Drouot Montaigne, Paris, 31 March 1995, lot 146 and from the collection of René Fribourg, Sotheby's London, 28 June 1963, lot 151 and subsequently Sotheby's New York, 27 October 1990, lot 21.
The small size of this chandelier indicates that it must have been made for a library or private apartment rather than a reception room. An inventory drawn up in 1717 after the death of Mme Romanet, wife of a secretary to the King lists in the cabinet de travail: "un lustre à huit branches de bronze doré avec des médailles et masques garnis d'ornements prisé la somme de quatre cent livres". This very expensive chandelier hung over a "bureau fait par Boulle" which might well indicate that Boulle supplied the chandelier as well. Indeed, the inventory accompanying Boulle's will in 1715 list numerous parts of chandeliers, notably "un grand chandelier de bronze à huit branches prest à dorer fait pour M. de Meme, 2,000 livres .... trois vases ou cassoulettes toutes montés pour des lustres valant 150".
This chandelier includes many characteristics of Boulle's work. The medallions of the Roman emperors intersperced with the espagnolette masks are found on examples in the sale of M. de Billy, 16 November 1784, lot 193, in the Victoria & Albert Museum (165-1885), the J. Paul Getty Museum (26 DF 13) and the Musée du Louvre (Donation Grog-Carven). Closely related examples were sold Couturier Nicolay, Drouot Montaigne, Paris, 31 March 1995, lot 146 and from the collection of René Fribourg, Sotheby's London, 28 June 1963, lot 151 and subsequently Sotheby's New York, 27 October 1990, lot 21.
The small size of this chandelier indicates that it must have been made for a library or private apartment rather than a reception room. An inventory drawn up in 1717 after the death of Mme Romanet, wife of a secretary to the King lists in the cabinet de travail: "un lustre à huit branches de bronze doré avec des médailles et masques garnis d'ornements prisé la somme de quatre cent livres". This very expensive chandelier hung over a "bureau fait par Boulle" which might well indicate that Boulle supplied the chandelier as well. Indeed, the inventory accompanying Boulle's will in 1715 list numerous parts of chandeliers, notably "un grand chandelier de bronze à huit branches prest à dorer fait pour M. de Meme, 2,000 livres .... trois vases ou cassoulettes toutes montés pour des lustres valant 150".