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Lot Essay
Five leading cabinet makers were producing furniture for the aristocracy and the emerging merchant-class towards the end of the second quarter of the 19th Century. Specifically noted are Befort Père, his son Befort Jeune, Jean Beurdeley, Joseph Cremer and Frédéric Roux (brother of Alexander Roux, who was located on Broadway in New York), all of whom produced exemplary pieces similar to this sumptuous bureau plat.
A number of examples of this model are recorded: One may now be found in the Collection of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, at Bowhill; a pair is in the Collection of the Earl of Normanton, at Somerley, purchased at Toms & Luscombe, New Bond Street, London in 1871, and stated at that time to be copied from a table in the possession of Baron Lionel de Rothschild. A fourth example, purchased by the 7th Viscount Powerscourt from Wright & Mansfield, Bond Street, London, was sold at Christie's House sale, Powerscourt, County Wicklow, Ireland, 24 & 25 September 1984, lot 489. A fifth was sold by Sotheby's, Villa Demidoff, Near Florence, 21-24 April 1969, lot 235. Meanwhile, a sixth, incorporating earlier marquetry panels and with more restrained ormolu mountings, was sold Christie's Paris, 17 June 2003, lot 166. Two further examples are illustrated in C. Payne, 19th Century European Furniture, Woodbridge, 1989, p.108.
A number of examples of this model are recorded: One may now be found in the Collection of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, at Bowhill; a pair is in the Collection of the Earl of Normanton, at Somerley, purchased at Toms & Luscombe, New Bond Street, London in 1871, and stated at that time to be copied from a table in the possession of Baron Lionel de Rothschild. A fourth example, purchased by the 7th Viscount Powerscourt from Wright & Mansfield, Bond Street, London, was sold at Christie's House sale, Powerscourt, County Wicklow, Ireland, 24 & 25 September 1984, lot 489. A fifth was sold by Sotheby's, Villa Demidoff, Near Florence, 21-24 April 1969, lot 235. Meanwhile, a sixth, incorporating earlier marquetry panels and with more restrained ormolu mountings, was sold Christie's Paris, 17 June 2003, lot 166. Two further examples are illustrated in C. Payne, 19th Century European Furniture, Woodbridge, 1989, p.108.