Saturday, March 26, 2022

Furniture Attributed to André-Charles Boulle

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Cabinet on Stand
ca. 1675-80
oak veneered with exotic materials,
supporting figures of painted and gilded oak
Getty Museum, Los Angeles

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Writing Table
ca. 1690
oak veneered with ebony,
marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Royal Collection, Great Britain

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Writing Table (detail)
ca. 1690
oak veneered with ebony,
marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Royal Collection, Great Britain

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Writing Table (detail)
ca. 1690
oak veneered with ebony,
marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Royal Collection, Great Britain

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Clock with Pedestal
ca. 1690
oak with marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Clock with Pedestal (detail)
ca. 1690
oak with marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Clock with Pedestal (detail)
ca. 1690
oak with marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Clock with Pedestal (detail)
ca. 1690
oak with marquetry of tortoiseshell, engraved brass, pewter,
gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Coffer
ca. 1700-1720
oak veneered with marquetry panels, gilt-bronze mounts
Art Institute of Chicago

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Cabinet
ca. 1710
oak veneered with ebony, marquetery of tortoiseshell and brass,
gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Eight-Light Chandelier
ca. 1710
gilt bronze
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Eight-Light Chandelier (detail)
ca. 1710
gilt bronze
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to André-Charles Boulle
Eight-Light Chandelier (detail)
ca. 1710
gilt bronze
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

André-Charles Boulle
Commode
ca. 1710-20
walnut veneered with ebony,
marquetry of engraved brass and tortoiseshell,
verd-antique marble top, gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

André-Charles Boulle
Commode (detail)
ca. 1710-20
walnut veneered with ebony,
marquetry of engraved brass and tortoiseshell,
verd-antique marble top, gilt-bronze mounts
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

"Christened by his contemporaries as "the most skillful artisan in Paris,"  André-Charles Boulle's name is synonymous with the practice of veneering furniture with marquetry of tortoiseshell, pewter, and brass.  Although he did not invent the technique, Boulle was its greatest practitioner and lent his name to its common name: boulle work.  Boulle also specialized in floral marquetry in both stained and naturally colored wood.  Before 1666 Boulle was awarded the title of master cabinetmaker; in 1672 the king granted him the royal privilege of lodging in the Palais du Louvre.  In the same year, he achieved the title of cabinetmaker and sculptor to Louis XIV, king of France.  This new title allowed him to produce furniture as well as works in gilt bronze such as chandeliers, wall lights, and mounts.  Although strict guild rules usually prevented craftsmen from practicing two professions simultaneously, Boulle's favored position allowed him protected status and exempted him from these statutes."

– from curator's notes at the Getty Museum