“boulle” Cabinet, Attr. To Befort Jeune, France, Circa 1870

Important cabinet with central projection opening with three doors on the front, in blackened wood. Adorned with a beautiful “Boulle” marquetry in contrepartie, with “Bérain” decoration of leafy arabesques made in tortoiseshell on a brass leaves background. Beautiful ornamentation in chiseled and gilded bronze, with mascaron motifs on the central door, leaves on the cornice, egg friezes, water leaves and rosettes on the sides. Topped with a large molded Campan Grand Mélange marble, it rests on six spiraled gilded bronze legs.

Of remarkable quality of execution, this very architectural piece of furniture, very close to the Louis XIV style, is certainly the work of Mathieu Befort (1813-1880), known as Befort Jeune, a French cabinetmaker who distinguished himself during the second half of the 19th century, mainly from 1830 to 1870, for its rich Napoleon III style furniture. He specializes, among other things, in the production of Boulle Napoleon III furniture in red tortoiseshell and brass, in blackened wood and ebony, as well as in rosewood furniture with mosaics. The house was located at 4 rue des Quatre-Fils, in Paris. Its productions include blackened wood bookcases, Boulle sideboards with two doors, Boulle cabinets, in-between or bottom cabinet furniture, etc.

André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732) is considered to be the true inventor of 17^th century French furniture. Soon after he was discovered by Colbert, Boulle became the « first cabinet-maker of the king », his full title being « architect, painter, mosaic sculptor, engraver, marquetry craftsman, and inventor of figures». Thus started for him the beginning of a period of great renown. With his royal privilege, Boulle was able to combine different activities usually restricted by corporations. Henceforth he worked as a master tortoiseshell and bronze marquetry craftsman, with such innovations as motifs both in the foreground and in the background. He also innovated by making a generous use of bronze, to decorate but also to protect the pieces of furniture. These innovations brought him fame throughout centuries.