CIRCA 1860

This pair of pedestals is inspired by the oeuvre of André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732), cabinetmaker, chaser, gilder and engraver du roi, appointed in 1672. His designs frequently included portrait medallions in similar employ to those on the present lot. Their significance included honoring Royal commissions, such as the extraordinary cabinet in the collection of the Prince and Princess Sadruddin Aga Khan which features a medallion of King Louis XIV in his armor (sold Christie’s, Paris, 24 November 2020, lot 1005). The medallions also served more symbolic importance, such as demonstrating the longevity or stability of a monarch by depicting powerful figures from antiquity and mythology. A pair of cabinets in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, dating to the late 18th century, are directly related to designs by Boulle feature a symbolic portrait medallion of Henri IV, King of France (1589–1610) and Maximilien de Béthune, duc de Sully (1560–1641) (accession nos. 1974.391.1a and 1974.391.2a, respectively). Boulle’s influence and technical prowess in combining bronze and marquetry continued through to 19th century with a number of accomplished ébénistes replicating his work, such as Mathieu Befort. The sunburst medallions, for example, are closely related to those found on a table in the Château de Chantilly (inv. no. OA 358).
The medallions on the present pair of pedestals are nearly identical to ones found in the National Museum of Bargello in Florence, established in the mid-nineteenth century. The medallions are unattributed and date to the sixteenth century, and are part of a series of Renaissance bronze plaques depicting various emperors, including Nero (inv. no. 609B) and Titus as seen here. The plaques in the Bargello include the same inscription below noting the subject.