Boulle Marquetry Medallion Sideboard Stamped Befort, Napoleon III Napoleon 3

DESCRIPTION: Rare sideboard in Boulle marquetry of brass and brown tortoiseshell. Sumptuous and emblematic model of the BEFORT house, bears three stamps on the back "BEFORT JEUNE". Of remarkable quality of execution, this very architectural piece of furniture, very close to the Louis XIV style, is the work of Mathieu Befort (1816-c.1880), known as Befort Jeune. Cabinetmaker-marquetry maker established rue Neuve-Saint-Gilles in Paris between 1844 and 1880, he specialized in the manufacture of furniture in "Boulle" marquetry. This prestigious cabinetmaker has a particular style that allows his furniture to be easily identified. All the bronzes of this piece of furniture bear the mark of the traditional founder of Mathieu BEFORT. Louis XIV shaped piece of furniture, executed in ebony veneer. Decorated with a "Boulle" marquetry, known as "en counterpart", made of brass on a brown tortoiseshell background, with motifs of foliage, volutes and interlacing. As usual at BEFORT, the marquetry is organized around the bronzes that it highlights. Superb ornamentation in gilded bronze, with a central medallion representing Love, with Venus making an offering to Cupid. The door is framed with classic Befort cross-shaped spandrels. On the sides, a "Greek" frieze, also recurrent in Befort productions, with high falls with acanthus leaves, two large rosettes on the lower part, ingot molds embedded on the perimeter. This piece of furniture was only made in a few copies in the world, it is one of the emblematic productions of the BEFORT house. PERIOD / Napoleon III between 1861 and 1866 DIMENSIONS / Height 113 cm x W 96 cm x D 47 cm GENERAL CONDITION / restored by our workshop AVAILABILITY / immediate PRICE / €4,900