Offered by Galerie Gilles Linossier
DIMENSIONS:
XVIII chest of drawers: H 82.5 cm (32 in.) x W 129 cm (50 ¾ in.) x D 68 cm (27 in.)
19th century chest of drawers: H 82.5 cm (32 in.) x W 127 cm (50 in.) x D 66.5 cm (26 in.)
Pair of Mazarine chests of drawers in Boulle marquetry
One is from the beginning of the 18th century, under Louis XIV, attributed to André Charles Boulles. The second, executed in the second part of the 19th century, is stamped by Wassmus.
They are in the first part, in ebony, tortoiseshell and brass, engraved and chiseled.
The fronts with transoms are called crossbow, opening with four drawers framed by a brass rod decorated with chiseled interlacing.
The rectangular tray with “Berain” decor presents a Venus surrounded by foliage scrolls. The 19th century chest of drawers has a variation on the orientation of the Venus drape.
The inverted console uprights are finished with gilded bronze doe feet.
The gilt bronze pull handles are finely chiseled and the keyholes are decorated with heads of grotesques and snakes intertwined in gilt bronze.
The crosspieces separating the drawers are inlaid with brass rods chiseled in a Godron pattern and framed in ebony.
The sides are made of raised panel framed by a gilded bronze groove for the 19th century chest of drawers and brass for the 18th century chest of drawers.
The latter executed under Louis XIV, due to the quality of its marquetry and the “Berain” designs, is attributed to André Charles Boulle (1642-1732).
The second chest of drawers, made around 1850-1860, bears the Wassmus stamp.
The Wassmus Brothers, Jean Henri Chretien and Jean Henri Christophe and son Henri Leonard, were recognized throughout the 19th century. Official supplier to the Crown under the Second Empire, they were also recognized in 1844 and 1853 for their manufacture of the “Riesener” and “Boulle” types.
Mentioned in the “French Furniture of the 19th Century” as one of the flourishing workshops of that century.
“Work, patience, sacrifices, nothing cost this house to become the true successors of Boulle, Riesner etc... (…) in 1840, according to the Almanacs du Commerce, they were cabinetmakers in modern and antique in all kinds. In 1844, they added the type of RIESENER, Louis and porcelain" French furniture of the 19th century: dictionary of cabinetmakers and carpenters, Denise Ledoux-Lebard, éditions de l'Amateur, 2000, p 620
Provenance: Rothschild collection then descendants.
