A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED, BRASS-INLAID TORTOISESHELL `BOULLE' MARQUETRY AND EBONY SIDE CABINET, 'ARMOIRE A MEDAILLES'

The present cabinet is based on a celebrated series of low armoires created by André-Charles Boulle circa 1725, one of which is illustrated in A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers The Art of the Ébéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution, London, 1989, p. 81, fig. 32. Celebrating the glory of Louis XIV, who is depicted in the medals suspended on the front of the cabinet, the model enjoyed a renewed appreciation in the 19th century, which led to the production of high-quality replicas amongst which is the present one by Matthieu Befort, dit Befort Jeune. One of the leading French furniture makers of the 19th century, Befort and his eponymous firm specialised in cabinetry inspired by Boulle, and faithfully replicated celebrated models from the Ancien Régime for a burgeoning international clientele. A nearly identical cabinet by Befort sold at Christie’s, London, 28 September 2006, lot 53 (£84,000).