Offered by Galerie Gilles Linossier
Rare little Bonheur-du-jour curved all side in rosewood and amaranth frame presenting a meticulously worked cube marquetry. This offers a subtle play of geometric patterns which captures the light and highlights the essence of rosewood used.
The finely chiseled gilded bronze details of the falls, enveloping shoes and keyholes underline the richness of this piece of furniture.
It opens at the belt with a gilded leather tray with a small iron revealing two side drawers, including the one on the right forming a silver writing desk.
The geometric marquetry of the belt is framed by a simple boxwood net in opposition to the geometric marquetry of the sides of the furniture and the upper and lower doors which are surrounded by a tinted sycamore net of geometric shape at right angles, itself framed with a boxwood net.
These doors are made of curtains with a rare push-button and key mechanism.
They reveal in the upper part a central space surrounded by three drawers on each side in end-grain marquetry framed by a net of boxwood and tinted sycamore.
The piece of furniture is topped with a rare scalloped-shaped gallery with a similar pattern of cubes, but with by a geometric shape of curves and right angles in stained sycamore surrounded by boxwood nets, in the middle.
We can see the high quality of this piece of furniture through its finishes, such as the marquetry work which harmonizes all its sides, including the rear.
This "bonheur-du-jour" is a typical example of the know-how of Léonard Boudin who innovated techniques between mechanism or singular specificity and the art of cabinetmaking.
Curved on all sides, this piece of furniture expresses the fluidity and delicacy specific to the rocaille aesthetic, while offering a perfect balance between functionality and decorative refinement of the Louis XV period.
Louis XV period work stamped by Léonard Boudin (received master in 1761).
Léonard Boudin (1735-1807) is one of the most talented French cabinetmakers of the second half of the 18th century. Received master in 1761, he distinguished himself by the ingenuity of his achievements. His works reveal a constant search for balance between aesthetics and mechanical functionality, rare at that time.
He carried out orders for big names, such as his office table for Gilles Joubert (furniture supplier to the royal furniture store) at the request of the Count of Provence at the Chateau de Compiègne and also his chest of drawers for the Count of Fontainebleau in 1771.
Many large pieces by this cabinetmaker are today in the collections of the Louvre, the Carnavalet Museum or the Château de Versailles. It is also represented internationally. His furniture can be found at the Cleveland Museum of Art or at the Kunts Husgeradskam in Stockholm and in many other places.
Dimensions: H 103.5 x W 74 x D 39.5 cm
