177. Emmanuel Alfred BEURDELEY (called Alfred II)
Cabinet secretary in flamed mahogany veneer, opening from top to bottom by a drawer,
a flap revealing five cavities and four drawers; and a large drawer in the belt. It
It rests on legs with cut sides joined by a crotch shelf.
Ornamentation in chased and gilded bronze such as falls, key entries, draw handles
openwork gallery, moldings, bas-relief, rings and sabots.
White veined marble top with gallery.
Stamped A. BEURDELEY PARIS.
Louis XVI style, circa 1900, after the model executed by Jean Henri Riesener.
124 x 65 x 37,5 cm.
(Scratches, small lacks and jumps of veneer, a ring of pulling detached).
A cabinet secretary identical to the one we present belonged to Emmanuel Alfred
Beurdeley and was located in his bedroom in his private mansion rue de Clichy in Paris
(Bonham's London, Beurdeley collection, 06/07/2011, lot 170, not sold).
A second identical cabinet secretary, also stamped Beurdeley, was auctioned in Paris (Christie's,
17/06/2003, lot 73).
The sketchbooks and drawings of Henry Pannier, owner of the Escalier de Cristal, illustrate
a secretary of this model with the following description: "Marie-Antoinette secretary
mahogany waxed bronze very fine Gouttières (Nels)". This abbreviated name is that of Henri Nelson, an important
supplier of the Escalier de Cristal, honored with a gold medal for the quality of his furniture at the
the International Exhibition of 1900.
Among the buyers mentioned, many illustrious clients are mentioned, including the Grand Duke
Vladimir (son of Tsar Alexander II), Radziwill, Polovtsov,
This secretary is directly inspired by the model created by Jean-Henri Riesener, around 1785, of which we know today a
of which we know today a small group of about ten pieces of furniture with some variants.
The one made by Beurdeley, faithfully reproduces the secretary belonging to the Ephrussi de
Rothschild collection.
Bibliography :
MASSEAU, Annick and Didier, L'Escalier de Cristal, le luxe à Paris 1809-1923, éditions Monelle
Hayot, 2021.
VIAN DES RIVES, Régis, La Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, Les éditions de l'Amateur, Paris, 2002.
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