Mazarin desk, France, Circa 1880 Height : 77...

Mazarin desk, France, Circa 1880 Height : 77 cm ; Length : 153 cm ; Depth : 84 cm This important Mazarin desk in ebony veneer and Boulle marquetry of red tortoiseshell, copper and pewter opens on the front with seven drawers and a central leaf. It rests on two side pedestals, each terminating in four bracket feet linked by braces and fitted with claws. The top, richly decorated with arabesques inspired by the designs of Jean I Berain (ornamentalist, "dessinateur de la chambre et du cabinet du roi", 1640-1711), features mythological figures sheltered by a canopy and surrounded by monkeys. They stand out against a flamboyant background of red-tinted tortoiseshell. The front and sides feature arabesque decorations embellished with birds and masks surrounding figures at play. The Mazarin form of desk appeared at the end of the 17th century, initially with a wood veneer with floral motifs (Pierre Gole, c.1620-1685), then with a veneer of tortoiseshell, copper and sometimes pewter (André-Charles Boulle, 1642-1732), as can be seen on our piece. Their numerous drawers and recessed center section made them comfortable to use. However, they were also considered to be ceremonial pieces of furniture, as evidenced by the rich marquetry decoration on all sides and the emphasis placed on arabesques. In the 19th century, Boulle marquetry was highly prized by collectors, and was reused by cabinetmakers such as Befort Jeune (1813-1880), Joseph Cremer (1811-1878) and Monbro Aîné (1807-1884).