BÉFORT, Mathieu

This R�gence style gilt bronze mounted brass inlay ebony and ebonized bureau plat was made in Paris in the manner of Andr�-Charles Boulle. It is fitted with a black leather writing surface, the desk is fitted with three frieze drawers.

This bureau plat, with its recessed central drawer and female mask corner mounts, is based upon a series of celebrated bureaux plats with female masks produced around 1715-20 in the workshop of the most celebrated French �b�niste of the Louis XIV period, Andr�-Charles Boulle. Boulle usually worked in tortoiseshell and brass marquetry, however, 18th century examples are also recorded in amaranth and ebony. Boulle also produced models with satyr masks chutes.

This mid-19th century ormolu and hard-stone mounted ebony and ebonised cabinet has shaped grey-veined white marble top above a pierced scrolling acanthus-cast frieze, the central door applied with a fruit-filled vase, with bird and ribbon-tied branches of pears and cherries, the angles with mask mounts, the canted angles with standing figures of Bacchus and Ceres, the interior fitted with three adjustable shelves, the sides with bearded masks with lion pelmets and paterae to the angles, on a shaped plinth centred by a Bacchic mask.

These black wood pedestals, present a sumptuous decor in Boulle marquetry, composed in counterpart with tortoiseshell and brass on a copper background, except the apron (or lambrequin) which is marqueted in first part with brass on a blue corn background. They were inspired from a model by Andr� Charles Boulle (1642- 1732) which is now kept at the Château de Versailles.