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Lot Essay
This writing-table is the pair to one in premire partie today in Schloss Berchtesgaden (B. Langer and A. Herzog von Wrtemberg et al., Die Mbel der Residenz Mnchen, New York, 1996, vol. II, pp. 286-289, cat. 81; and F. Defour, Belgische Meubelkunst in Europa, Roeselare, p. 70, where it is attributed to Wilhelm de Groff), which is attributed to the master 'CSB' and which is dated 1729. The shape as well as all the marquetry is identical in every detail, except that the Berchtesgaden desk has the coat-of-arms of Max II Emanuel in the middle of the door and his cypher to the centre of the writing-top. That table was commissioned by the elector Karl Albrecht of Bavaria and can be identified in an inventory of the Residenz in 1769. It stood in the southern appartments in the Steinzimmer which was entirely furnished with Boulle-type furniture such as two writing-tables by Johann Puchwieser and a bureau plat by Bernard I van Risamburgh.
The marquetry of the door to the top follows a design by Jean Brain (d. 1711) which was engraved by Jean Dolivar (d. 1692). B. Langer attributes the writing-table to a thus unidentified master 'CSB' because a small chest, that has very closely related marquetry and a similar construction, and that bears the initials 'CSB' is dated 1724.
Interestingly a second identical writing-table is listed in the 1769 inventory of the Residenz. It is, however, probable that that desk was even a third version of this model writing-table because it mentions yellow ivory instead of the green-stained ivory that is predominant on this table.
The marquetry of the door to the top follows a design by Jean Brain (d. 1711) which was engraved by Jean Dolivar (d. 1692). B. Langer attributes the writing-table to a thus unidentified master 'CSB' because a small chest, that has very closely related marquetry and a similar construction, and that bears the initials 'CSB' is dated 1724.
Interestingly a second identical writing-table is listed in the 1769 inventory of the Residenz. It is, however, probable that that desk was even a third version of this model writing-table because it mentions yellow ivory instead of the green-stained ivory that is predominant on this table.