AN IMPORTANT FRENCH GILT COPPER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED EBONY, CITRONNIER AND BOIS CLAIRE MARQUETRY MEUBLE D'APPUI

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN

AN IMPORTANT FRENCH GILT COPPER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED EBONY, CITRONNIER AND BOIS CLAIRE MARQUETRY MEUBLE D'APPUI

BY CHARLES-GUILLAUME DIEHL, THE MOUNTS BY JEAN BRANDELY, THE MARQUETRY PROBABLY BY E. VARLOT, PARIS, CIRCA 1873

Details

AN IMPORTANT FRENCH GILT COPPER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED EBONY, CITRONNIER AND BOIS CLAIRE MARQUETRY MEUBLE D'APPUI
By Charles-Guillaume Diehl, The mounts by Jean Brandely, The marquetry probably by E. Varlot, Paris, Circa 1873
Of breakfront form, the brèche marble top above a stylised anthemion frieze and three doors divided by four classically-draped caryatids against Ionic pilasters, the central door with a large framed panel inlaid with a scene depicting a falconer on horseback, a maiden with two greyhounds and a further maiden outside a temple, the panelled reverse centred by an inlaid rosette, within an anthemion border, the side doors each inlaid with a Grecian column and tripod flaming altar, the reverse of each inlaid with an amphora and vine-entwined thyrsus, the interior of each cupboard with a pair of adjustable shelves, the sides with similarly inlaid amphora within a vine frame, the conforming shaped base supported on large stylised anthemion-cast feet, the central door lockplate stamped Diehl/r. MICHEL le COMTE/19/PARIS/EXPOSITION/DE VIENNE/1873
60 in. (152.3 cm.) high; 77 in. (195.5 cm.) wide; 23½ in. (59.7 cm.) deep

Literature

D. Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1984, pp. 165-167.

Exhibited

International Exhibition, Vienna, 1873 and Paris, 1878.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Born in Germany in 1811, Charles-Guillaume Diehl settled in Paris circa 1840 and at first specialised in Boulle marquetry and small functional furniture. By 1878, he was known for his 'meubles néo-grecs très étudiés et très savants', participating in all the major Expositions Universelles where he was awarded numerous medals (1855, 1867, 1869 and 1873). Artists such as the marqueteur Varlot, the bronze designer Brandely or the sculptors Fremiet and Guillemin collaborated with Diehl to execute his most intricate pieces.

The present meuble d'appui, with its finely-inlaid marquetry panels and sumptuous caryatid mounts, was shown on Diehl's award-winning stands at both the 1873 International Exhibition in Vienna, and the 1878 Exhibition in Paris (see the Art Journal exhibition catalogue engraving above).

An identical model meuble d'appui with similarly stamped lockplate, is in the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, Paris (O.A.O.336).

More from 19th Century Furniture, Sculpture and Works of Art

View All