A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, BOIS SATINE AND PARQUETRY CORNER SECRETAIRE

BY R.V.L.C, ROGER VANDERCRUSE, CALLED LACROIX

Details

A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD, BOIS SATINE AND PARQUETRY CORNER SECRETAIRE
By R.V.L.C, Roger Vandercruse, called Lacroix
Of serpentine outline with canted angles, the shaped projecting triangular fleur de pche marble top above a secretaire section comprising a rectangular fall-front enclosing a gilt-tooled red leather-lined writing-surface and fitted interior of seven variously-sized drawers around a central recess, below three larger openings, the lower section with two cupboard doors and shaped apron, on short cabriole legs with sabots, stamped 'R.V.L.C' and 'JME', with depository label for 'Maples', label to underside of marble top inscribed in ink 'S+R R Ben G C Christies'(?), possibly originally with apron mounts
50 in. (127 cm.) high; 34 in. (87 cm.) wide; 22 in. (56 cm.) deep

Provenance

Anonymous sale, in these Rooms, 27 June 1974, lot 115 (2,600 gns.).

Lot Essay

Roger Vandercruse, known as Lacroix, matre in 1755.

The distinctive, illusionistic lozenge parquetry of this unusual corner secretaire also features on a pair of small commodes by RVLC, dated 1757 and with the label of the celebrated marchand mercier Simon-Phillippe Poirier. This type of parquetry undoubtedly derives from the oeuvre of Jean-Franois Oeben (bniste du Roi in 1754), RVLC's brother-in-law and an important influence on the latter's career. A night table delivered to the Garde Meuble and attributed to Oeben with very similar parquetry is illustrated in A. Pradre, French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, p. 257, fig. 267.

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