A PAIR OF LOUIS XIV ORMOLU CHENETS

ATTRIBUTED TO ANDRE-CHARLES BOULLE, LATE 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A PAIR OF LOUIS XIV ORMOLU CHENETS
ATTRIBUTED TO ANDRE-CHARLES BOULLE, LATE 17TH/EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Surmounted by a flaming finial, the body shaped as perfume body decorated with husks and centred by wolf masks, flanked by ram heads terminating in hoof feet, the moulded, shaped rectangular base flanked by acanthus handles and decorated with trellis motif centred by classical portrait medallions surrounded by acanthus wreaths, the angles with foliate clasps on paw feet
13 ¾ in. (35 cm.) high; 6 ¾ in. (17 cm.) wide

Provenance

Formerly in the collection of Madame Henriette Bouvier (1887-1965), Versailles.

Literature

Bibliothèque du musée des Arts décoratifs, Albums Maciet, Chauffage. Chenets. XVIIIe siècle. Louis XV.

Lot Essay

This superbly chased pair of chenets forming brule-parfums are characteristic of the oeuvre of André-Charles Boulle. The pierced urn surmounting the base is identical to an urn finial adorning a chandelier attributed to the celebrated ébéniste and bronzier, sold at Christie’s, New York, 21 May 1996, lot 316. It also relates to a design by Jean Bérain (1637-1711) which depicts a similar urn supported by scrolling female figure (illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Proschel et al, Vergoldete Bronzen, I, Munich, 1986, p. 48, fig.1.5.1). Bérain’s designs proliferated by engravings and inspired many artists and artisans of his time, especially André-Charles Boulle who possessed in his own collection ‘dix huit livres en feuilles d’ornements de Berrain’, as indicated in his inventory after death in 1732. Interestingly, the present base on paw feet with portrait medallions of nymphs and a satyr, is related to supports attributed to Boulle for sculptures of Amphitrite and Bacchus by Michel Anguier, illustrated in J. N. Ronfort, André Charles Boulle (1642-1732). Un nouveau style pour l’Europe, Paris, 2009, p. 384.