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Lot Essay
These Boulle bibliothèques were almost certainly acquired by John, 2nd Marquess of Bute (1793-1848). He was instrumental in the development of Cardiff and the docks that he caused to be constructed transformed the economy of South Wales and the financial position of the family. It was probably he who collected many of the Boulle pieces in the family's collection such as those sold in these Rooms on 3 July 1996 which included lot 48, a Louis XIV Armoire attributed to Nicolas Sageot and after a design by John Vardy, lot 49, a Régence Commode attributed to Noël Gérard and lot 49, a Régence Bureau Plat by Noël Gérard.
The rounded tops of the doors of these bibliothèques are very similar to those on a further Boulle bibliothèque from the property of S.C. Whitbread Esq., sold in these Rooms, 14 June 1990, lot 128. Interestingly it had a nearly identical cornice and later ormolu mounts around the doors. That bibliothèque had probably been bought by Samuel Whitbread II for Southill Park, Bedfordshire, in the Revolutionary sales of 1795 and while Southill Park was being reconstructed by the francophile architect Henry Holland. It is probable that these bibliothèques were altered in the same workshop as the one sold in 1990.
The central circular medallion on the doors of these bilbiothèques is further very closely related to those on an armoire that was sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 5 July 1985, lot 26, and another sold in Paris, 4 December 1922, both of which can be compared with the work of Nicolas Sageot, maître in 1708, on the basis of the marquetry (P. Grand, 'Le Mobilier Boulle et les ateliers de l'époque', L'Objet d'Art, February 1993, p. 55).
The rounded tops of the doors of these bibliothèques are very similar to those on a further Boulle bibliothèque from the property of S.C. Whitbread Esq., sold in these Rooms, 14 June 1990, lot 128. Interestingly it had a nearly identical cornice and later ormolu mounts around the doors. That bibliothèque had probably been bought by Samuel Whitbread II for Southill Park, Bedfordshire, in the Revolutionary sales of 1795 and while Southill Park was being reconstructed by the francophile architect Henry Holland. It is probable that these bibliothèques were altered in the same workshop as the one sold in 1990.
The central circular medallion on the doors of these bilbiothèques is further very closely related to those on an armoire that was sold anonymously, Sotheby's London, 5 July 1985, lot 26, and another sold in Paris, 4 December 1922, both of which can be compared with the work of Nicolas Sageot, maître in 1708, on the basis of the marquetry (P. Grand, 'Le Mobilier Boulle et les ateliers de l'époque', L'Objet d'Art, February 1993, p. 55).