Boulle display cabinet with gilt bronze mounts, 19th century
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
- Boulle - Boulle work is the name given to tortoiseshell and metal inlay using brass and sometimes silver, found on furniture and smaller wooden objects. It originated in Italy but was developed by Frenchman Andre Charles Boulle (1642 - 1732) under Louis XIV.
Boulle was appointed Royal Cainet Maker to Louis XIV and designed furniture and clockcases for the monarch.
In preparation, the tortoiseshell and metal were cut together following a design, using a fine fret saw.
In the application of the Boulle, the carcase of piece of furniture was covered with the tortoiseshell which in turn was inlaid with the matched designs in metal, which in turn was elaborately engraved.
The use of Boulle work furniture continued mainly in France until the 19th century. - Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.
The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.
It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.
This item has been included into following indexes:
Visually similar items
A 19th century ebonised French Boulle display vitrine, with decorative cut brass inlaid in red tortoiseshell panels, framing the single glazed door, beneath a similarly decorated cornice further embellished with cast brass mounts. 89 cm x 36 cm x 112 cm
A good Victorian burr walnut pier cabinet, the moulded edge, above a frieze with ormolu banding, below a glazed door with roundels, flanked by pilasters. 106 cm high, 86 cm wide, 37 cm deep.
A Victorian walnut music cabinet, enclosed by a single glazed door, raised on ball feet. Width 70 cm
A good quality French cut brass inlaid ebonised side cabinet with glazed sides and two doors, the whole with foliate cut brass inlaid panels and patera, 140 x 114.5 x 36 cm