Boulle Marquetry Revisited by Julliot and Joseph During the Louis XVI Period

Published on 05 April 2024, by Caroline Legrand

Auction on 17 April 2024 - 14:00 (CEST) - Salle 10 - Hôtel Drouot - 75009

Claude-François Julliot (1727-1794) probably commissioned these two pieces of furniture stamped Joseph, which were in the Comte de Merle’s collection. They are beautiful examples of the resurgence of copper and tortoiseshell "Boulle" marquetry early in the Louis XVI period.

Early Louis XVI period, pair of entre-deux cabinets in “Boulle” marquetry, each stamped... Boulle Marquetry Revisited by Julliot and Joseph During the Louis XVI Period

Early Louis XVI period, pair of entre-deux cabinets in “Boulle” marquetry, each stamped twice with “Joseph” for Joseph Baumhauer (1747-1772), the first part in brass on a brown tortoiseshell ground, four sheathed legs joined by a curved X-shaped brace, chased and gilded bronze ornamentation, 88.5 x 69 x 41.5 cm/34.84 x 27.16 x 16.33 in.
Estimate: €200,000/300,000

“These two pieces of fine marquetry are noteworthy for the regular composition of their form and ornamentation,” was the complimentary description of number 213 in the catalog of the collection of the Comte de Merle, Charles-Louis de Beauchamp (1723-1793), dispersed at the Hôtel de Bullion on March 1, 1784. The handwritten note referring to the Getty Research Institute's example says it was bought for 1,399…

This article is for subscribers only

You still have 85% left to read.

To discover more, Subscribe