1750
A Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Tulipwood, Kingwood and Bois-de-Bout Marquetry Table by B.V.R.B.
The serpentine rectangular top inlaid with a scrolling cartouche and foliate and flowering branches, with moulded edge, above a gilt-tooled leather-lined writing slide and two lateral writing slides, the frieze decorated with cross-banded panels surrounding inlaid flowering branches, the sides each with a drawer, one with a fitted interior, above foliate clasps, the apron centred by a pierced rocaille mount, the angles decorated with foliate mounts above a larger chute de fleurs on tapering cabriole legs terminating in pierced foliate sabots.
B.V.R.B. (Master in 1730, died Circa 1766)
This elegant writing table is characteristic of his work at the height of his career, when he supplied various members of the Royal Family and their circle with marquetry and lacquer furniture. Delicate tables a ecrire were clearly one of his specialities; examples of this form were supplied in 1752 to Madame de Pompadour for use at the Chateau de Bellevue and another in 1754 to Monsieur Fontferriere through the marchand-mercier Lazard Duvaux as intermediary. This writing table is of the same form and design as three other writing tables by BVRB. The example most closely related is one sold for $400,000 from the collection of Barbara Piaceska Johnson at Sotheby’s New York on 21 May 1992, Lot 84, which was formerly in the collection of Paul Dutasta. It has an almost identical form, and with the same marquetry design to the top and the same mounts to the angles, legs, feet and frieze of the table. The second example is currently at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles which is of the same form, size and design with many identical mounts but with slightly different floral marquetry. The third example is at the Metropolitan Museum of art in New York and was formerly in the collection of Mr and Mrs Charles Wrightsman. This also has the same marquetry design but is inlaid, not with end grain marquetry but with mother-of-pearl and stained horn. It is also enriched with an ormolu gallery around the top.
Measurements
| Dimensions | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 94 | 37 |
| Depth: | 62.5 | 24.5 |
| Height: | 76 | 30 |