A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI
A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI
A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI
A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI
3 More
Prospective purchasers are advised that several co… Read more PROPERTY OF A ROYAL HOUSE
A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI

AFTER THE MODEL BY ANDRÉ-CHARLES BOULLE, BY WASSMUS FRÈRES, PARIS, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Details
A PAIR OF NAPOLEON III ORMOLU-MOUNTED CUT-BRASS-INLAID RED TORTOISESHELL 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY EBONY AND EBONISED MEUBLES D'APPUI
AFTER THE MODEL BY ANDRÉ-CHARLES BOULLE, BY WASSMUS FRÈRES, PARIS, THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
Decorated overall in première and contre partie marquetry panels, each with a rectangular brass-inlaid top above a pair of cupboard doors headed by an Apollo mask, the doors centred by figures of Aspasia and Socraties and flanked to the sides with ribbon-tied portrait medals, the doors lined in bois satiné to the reverse and enclosing two adjustable shelves, the sides centred with pierced scrolling foliate mounts, on bun feet, stamped to the reverse of each 'WASSMUS'
49 in. (126.5 cm.) high; 48 in. (123 cm.) wide; 18 1/8 in. (46 cm.) deep (2)
Provenance
Sotheby's Monaco, 8-9 February 1982, lot 708.
Christie's, New York, 9 April 2008, lot 125 ($121,000).
Special notice
Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.

Brought to you by

Emma Durkin
Emma Durkin

Check the condition report or get in touch for additional information about this

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

Sign in
View condition report

Lot Essay

This pair of fine meubles d'appui, executed in complimentary premiére and contre partie brass and tortoiseshell-inlaid marquetry, is based on the celebrated model by André-Charles Boulle, ébéniste, ciseleur, doreur et sculpteur du Roi from 1672 to 1732 (see Alexandre Pradère, French Furniture Makers, The Art of the Ebéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution, Paris, 1989, p. 81).

Established in Paris in 1810, the firm of Wassmus Frères was fêted for high quality furnishings in the 18th century taste produced under the direction of Henri-Léonard. From 1853 the business traded from 146, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Denis supplying furniture to European royal houses and contributing to the Paris Exhibitions of 1855 and 1867. Wassmus, who received a court appointment from the Garde-meuble as a Fournisseur de la Couronne, was celebrated as an 'artiste supérieur'.

A single cabinet of the same model, executed by Wassmus's contemporary, Mathieu Befort, dit Befort Jeune, was sold at Christie's London, 28 September 2006, lot 53 (£84,000).

More from The Opulent Eye

View All
View All