Boulle (pronounced "bool") refers to a type of decorative furniture that was popular in France during the 17th and 18th centuries. The term "boulle" is derived from the French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle, who perfected the technique and popularized the style in the late 17th century.

Boulle furniture is characterized by its intricate inlay work, which typically features designs made from brass or copper on a black lacquer background. The inlay designs can be quite elaborate and often depict intricate floral or architectural motifs. The technique involves inlaying thin sheets of metal, such as brass, into a wooden substrate such as ebony. Boulle furniture can range from desks, tables, cabinets, commodes and many other types of furniture.

The Boulle technique was used primarily for luxury items and was commissioned by the French Royalty, nobles, and wealthy individuals. Boulle furniture is highly prized for its skillful craftsmanship and intricate designs, and more...

68 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

A Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted boulle centre table, 19th…

Napoleon III Gilt Bronze Boulle Centre Table, 19th Century

A Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted boulle centre table, 19th century, of serpentine form with a tooled leather surface above an ornate brass strap work inlaid frieze raised on cabriole legs, a single frieze drawer, and embellished with cast mascaron and…

An impressive 19th century French boulle games table, the top,…

French Boulle Games Table with Tortoiseshell and Brass Inlay

An impressive 19th century French boulle games table, the top, apron and legs lavishly inlaid with tortoiseshell and swirling brass detail, the front with brass plaque of a bearded face, the interior with original baize lining, ormolu decoration to frame…

Antique Boulle marquetry 'Bonheur du jour' desk with gilt…

Boulle marquetry desk with gilt bronze decoration and cylinder top

Antique Boulle marquetry 'Bonheur du jour' desk with gilt bronze decoration. cylinder top, fitted interior and drawer, with writing surface top, 119 cm wide, 56 cm deep, 167 cm high

A Napoleon III boulle centre table, 19th century, the…

Napoleon III Boulle Center Table with Roman Charioteer Inlay

A Napoleon III boulle centre table, 19th century, the serpentine top finely brass inlaid in the Berainesque manner to the red tortoiseshell ground and centred with a Roman charioteer, with cast ormolu mounts, a fitted frieze drawer and raised on hipped…

A Napoleon III boulle occasional table, 19th century, of…

Napoleon III Boulle Occasional Table, 19th Century, Serpentine Profile

A Napoleon III boulle occasional table, 19th century, of serpentine profile and inlaid in the Berainesque manner upon a red tortoiseshell ground, the bold cabriole legs decorated with cast mounts and sabots united by stretchers and a central ornament,…

A Louis XV style boulle fold-over card table, 19th century,…

19th Century Louis XV Style Boulle Fold-Over Card Table

A Louis XV style boulle fold-over card table, 19th century, with intricate brass inlay in the Berainesque manner upon a red tortoiseshell ground, beadwork trims and raised on tapering and hipped cabriole legs, 76.5 cm high, 71 cm wide, 39 cm deep

An antique bureau de Dame in boulle manner, late 19th / early…

Boulle Style Antique Bureau de Dame with Gilt Mounts

An antique bureau de Dame in boulle manner, late 19th / early 20th century, of typical form, the gallery top above a sloping fall front enclosing a rosewood interior with leather lined writing surface, small drawers, and a well, raised on cabriole…

A fine French boulle fold-over card table, profusely inlaid…

French Boulle Fold-Over Card Table with Brass Marquetry Inlay

A fine French boulle fold-over card table, profusely inlaid with scroll brass floral marquetry on red tortoiseshell ground and adorned with handsome ormolu mounts, circa 1870, 80 cm high, 90 cm wide, 45 cm (extends to 89 cm) deep

A French Napoleon III boulle marquetry card table, beautifully…

French Napoleon III Boulle Marquetry Card Table: Brass & Tortoise

A French Napoleon III boulle marquetry card table, beautifully inlaid with brass and tortoise shell on cabriole legs. Height: 76 cm. Width: 90 cm. Depth: 46 cm.

A boulle and gilt-bronze mounted fold-over table, French 19th…

French Boulle and Gilt-Bronze Fold-Over Table

A boulle and gilt-bronze mounted fold-over table, French 19th century 98 cm wide, 43 cm deep, 78 cm high

Antique Napoleon III style boulle centre table with drawer and…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table with Glass Top

Antique Napoleon III style boulle centre table with drawer and glass covered top, 131 cm x 78 cm, 77 cm high

A fine and unusually colourful French games table in boulle…

Colorful French Boulle Games Table with Bronze Mounts

A fine and unusually colourful French games table in boulle manner, mid 19th century, the shaped fold-over top enclosing a playing surface lined in blue baize with a fitted compartment beneath, the shaped frieze raised on cabriole supports, with fine cast…

An ebonised tortoiseshell and brass boulle centre table, later…

Ebonised Boulle Centre Table with Intricate Inlay

An ebonised tortoiseshell and brass boulle centre table, later 19th century of serpentine oval profile with an undulating apron, frieze drawer and cabriole legs, profusely inlaid in the Berainesque manner with intricate arabesques, with relief mascaron…

A Napoleon III style boulle and gilt metal bureau plat, the…

Napoleon III Boulle Bureau Plat

A Napoleon III style boulle and gilt metal bureau plat, the leather lined surface within red tortoiseshell borders, having three drawers on cabriole legs with espagnolette chutes and rocaille sabots, height 83 cm, width 158 cm, depth 82 cm

Rare & fine 19th century French boulle sewing table the…

19th Century French Boulle Sewing Table

Rare & fine 19th century French boulle sewing table the rectangular top with traditional brass inlaid in tortoiseshell depicting a central figure beneath a canopy flanked by the Aesops Fable figures of the fox and the stork, with a scrolling surround of…

A French boulle drop front Bureau*, late 19th/Early 20th…

French Boulle Drop Front Bureau with Ormolu Mounts

A French boulle drop front Bureau*, late 19th/Early 20th century, of typical design, the gallery edge top, above a drop-down bureau enclosing a fitted interior of three drawers and slide compartment, above an apron, supported on four serpentine legs with…

Regency rosewood sofa table with two drawers drawer fronts to…

Regency Rosewood Sofa Table with Boulle Brass Inlay

Regency rosewood sofa table with two drawers drawer fronts to opposite side and boulle brass inlay, 148 cm wide open, 96 cm wide closed, 66 cm deep, 73 cm high

Boulle marquetry ebonised centre table late 19th century the…

Late 19th Century Boulle Marquetry Centre Table

Boulle marquetry ebonised centre table late 19th century the serpentine white marble top above a frieze finely chiselled with scrolls and foliage, raised on four cabriole legs mounted with espagnolette busts, height 76 cm, width 148 cm, depth 95.5 cm.…

French boulle desk circa 1870, ebonised with brass and…

Ebonised Boulle Desk with Brass and Tortoiseshell Inlay

French boulle desk circa 1870, ebonised with brass and tortoiseshell Seperate three drawer top with brass gallery and five drawers below supported by ormolu decorated fluted legs, height 98 cm, length 117 cm, depth 55 cm

A Napoleon III boulle work ormolu mounted ebonised drop leaf…

Napoleon III Boulle Writing Table with Drop Leaves

A Napoleon III boulle work ormolu mounted ebonised drop leaf writing table, French, 19th century, in the Louis XVI revival taste, the top inlaid with a profusion of foliate scrollwork, cavetto corners flanked by hinged D shaped drop-side leaves, raised on…

A Napoleon III ebonised, tortoiseshell and brass inlaid centre…

Napoleon III Inlaid Centre Table

A Napoleon III ebonised, tortoiseshell and brass inlaid centre table in the manner of Andre Charles boulle, 19th century, a Napoleon III ebonised, tortoiseshell and brass inlaid centre table in the manner of Andre Charles Boulle, 19th century, 76.5 cm…

Louis XV style boulle marquetry and ormolu mounted bureau plat,…

Louis XV Style Boulle Marquetry Writing Desk

Louis XV style boulle marquetry and ormolu mounted bureau plat, c. 1860, the serpentine top inset with brown gilt-tooled leather writing surface, the frieze centred by a gilt mask flanked by two drawers, each corner mounted with espagnolettes supported on…

19th century boulle centre table, of quatrefoil outline…

Boulle Centre Table with Ornate Inlays and Carytids

19th century boulle centre table, of quatrefoil outline traditional red tortoiseshell with ornate brass inlays, the cabriole legs with ormolu carytids (for restoration)

A Boulle card table. 76 cm high, 90 cm wide, 45 cm deep.

Boulle Card Table: Elegant and Compact Gaming Solution

A Boulle card table. 76 cm high, 90 cm wide, 45 cm deep.

An octagonal Boulle and brass and bone inlaid centre table on…

Octagonal Boulle and Brass Inlaid Centre Table with Ormolu Base

An octagonal Boulle and brass and bone inlaid centre table on column ormolu mounted base. 78 cm high, 60 cm wide, 60 cm deep.

Napoleon III ebonised, brass and tortoiseshell inlaid 'Boulle'…

Napoleon III Boulle Card Table with Mars Medallion

Napoleon III ebonised, brass and tortoiseshell inlaid 'Boulle' card table 19th century of serpentine shape, the top decorated with a central medallion depicting Mars and his chariot, green baize-lined interior, on chamfered cabriole legs

A Louis XIV style boulle Mazarin desk, 19th century, of typical…

Baroque Boulle Mazarin Desk, 19th Century

A Louis XIV style boulle Mazarin desk, 19th century, of typical Baroque form with a recessed frieze drawer and a kneehole cupboard, flanked by a trio of shaped drawers, curvaceous side supports and eight, conforming legs united by stretcher bases,…

A Napoleon III Ormolu-Mounted cut Brass-Inlaid tortoiseshell…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table with Ormolu Mounts

A Napoleon III Ormolu-Mounted cut Brass-Inlaid tortoiseshell and ebonised 'Boulle' centre table, third quarter 19th century, decorated overall in premiere partie, the serpentine tooled leather top with gilt central flower burst medallion, the drawer…

A 19th century boulle bonheur-du-jour writing desk, Louis XVI…

Louis XVI Boulle Writing Desk

A 19th century boulle bonheur-du-jour writing desk, Louis XVI style, pierced three-quarter edged gallery top, above two doors and two drawers, with serpentine frieze drawer raised on cabriole legs, with gilt metal mounts and ornate brass strapwork, the…

Antique French Boulle library table, each side with brass inlay,…

French Boulle Library Table with Brass Inlay, c1850

Antique French Boulle library table, each side with brass inlay, the front with a single drawer, 100 cm wide, 67.5 cm deep, 74 cm high. c1850.

A French boulle style centre table, later 19th century, the…

French Boulle Style Centre Table with Brass Inlay and Tortoiseshell

A French boulle style centre table, later 19th century, the oval shaped table decorated with cut brass inlay in the Berainesque, manner upon a scarlet tortoiseshell ground, cast brass border trims, a shaped, apron with mask heads above curvaceous legs…

A French boulle flip top games table, circa 1890, the table…

French Boulle Flip Top Games Table (9 words)

A French boulle flip top games table, circa 1890, the table inlaid with brass and tortoise shell overall. The top serpentine in shape with a swiveling flip top, raised above four serpentine legs each mounted with female ormolu caryatids, 77 cm high, 86 cm…

A 19th century Boulle table c1880, mounted with gilded bronze,…

Boulle Table with Gilded Bronze and X-shaped Stretchers

A 19th century Boulle table c1880, mounted with gilded bronze, x shaped stretched, supporting turned, fluted legs, the top with some losses. Height 79 cm, width 75 cm, length 115 cm

French Boulle card table, c1870's brass inlaid gilt ormolu…

French Boulle Card Table with Brass Inlay and Gilt Mounts

French Boulle card table, c1870's brass inlaid gilt ormolu mounted fold & swivel top, height 76 cm, length 91 cm, (some older restoration to inlay)

A Napoleon III Boulle centre table, 19th century, 79 cm high,…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table, 19th Century

A Napoleon III Boulle centre table, 19th century, 79 cm high, 142 cm wide, 88 cm deep

A Napoleon III Boulle centre table, serpentine top with brass…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table with Distressed Finish

A Napoleon III Boulle centre table, serpentine top with brass and turtle shell marquetery, raised on cabriole legs, one drawer. Distressed. 100 x 65 cm

A Napoleon III tortoiseshell and brass boulle and ebonised…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table with Ormolu Decoration

A Napoleon III tortoiseshell and brass boulle and ebonised centre table with ormolu decoration, circa 1870, of serpentine oval profile with an undulating apron, frieze drawer and cabriole legs, profusely inlaid with intricate arabesques and cherubs,…

A Louis XV style Boulle bureau a cylindre, 19th century, 151 cm…

19th Century Boulle Style Louis XV Cylinder Bureau

A Louis XV style Boulle bureau a cylindre, 19th century, 151 cm high, 88 cm wide, 48 cm deep

A Louis XVI style Boulle and ebonised occasional table, 19th…

19th Century Louis XVI Style Occasional Table

A Louis XVI style Boulle and ebonised occasional table, 19th century, 74 cm high, 53 cm diameter

A Louis XVI style Boulle dressing table, 19th century, 155 cm…

19th Century Boulle Dressing Table in Louis XVI Style

A Louis XVI style Boulle dressing table, 19th century, 155 cm high, 110 cm wide, 48 cm deep

An impressive Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted serpentine…

Louis XVI Style Boulle Centre Table, 19th Century

An impressive Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted serpentine Boulle centre table, French, 19th century, 76 cm high, 160 cm wide, 108 cm deep

A Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted Boulle display table, 19th…

Gilt Bronze Boulle Display Table, 19th Century

A Louis XV style gilt bronze mounted Boulle display table, 19th century, 74 cm high, 77 cm wide, 49 cm deep

A boulle style ebonised brass mounted desk, 20th century, the…

Ebonised Brass Mounted Boulle Style Desk

A boulle style ebonised brass mounted desk, 20th century, the shaped top above three drawers, brass inlay to the front and back, on cabriole legs with moulded mounts, 83 x 125 x 66 cm. Provenance: The collection of a Curator & Collector, New South Wales

A boulle and giltwood desk elaborately decorated, French, early…

Elaborate French Boulle and Giltwood Desk, 19th Century

A boulle and giltwood desk elaborately decorated, French, early 19th century, 79 cm high, 120 cm wide, 66 cm deep

A Louis XV style Boulle fold-over serpentine card table, mid…

Boulle Serpentine Card Table with Classical Female Masks

A Louis XV style Boulle fold-over serpentine card table, mid 19th century with bold cast classical female mask mounts, 79 cm high, 88 cm wide, 46 cm deep

A French tortoiseshell and brass inlaid boulle side table /…

French Boulle Side Table with Inlaid Brass and Leather Top

A French tortoiseshell and brass inlaid boulle side table / desk, late 19th century, the rectangular top with inset beige tooled leather writing surface within a cut brass marquetry surround, ormolu mounts and applied mask heads to frieze, raised on four…

An ebonised occasional table, Victorian with gilded metal…

Victorian Boulle Inlaid Occasional Table with Miniature Frame

An ebonised occasional table, Victorian with gilded metal mounts, the top with inlaid boulle work which opens to reveal an interior with lift out frame for 3 miniatures. Height 78 cm, width 43 cm depth 31 cm

A good boulle manner ormolu-mounted and brass-inlaid bureau de…

Ormolu-mounted Boulle Bureau de Dame

A good boulle manner ormolu-mounted and brass-inlaid bureau de Dame, late 19th century, the fall front enclosing a leather-lined writing surface and fitted interior above a frieze drawer, on cabriole legs, the top, front, and outside faces of all legs…

Late 19th century French ebonised boulle fold over card table…

French Boulle Card Table with Brass Inlay and Ormolu Mounts

Late 19th century French ebonised boulle fold over card table of serpentine form with inlaid brass top and cabriole legs with ormolu mounts.

A Napoleon III ormolu mounted, cut brass, ebonized and…

Napoleon III Boulle Centre Table with Ormolu Mounts

A Napoleon III ormolu mounted, cut brass, ebonized and tortoiseshell 'Boulle' centre table, circa 1860 having a lobed oval top, the frieze mounted with male and female ormolu masks, with a single frieze drawer, supported on cabriole legs 73 cm high, 140…

A Napoleon III ormolu mounted, cut brass, ebonized and…

Napoleon III Boulle Side Table

A Napoleon III ormolu mounted, cut brass, ebonized and tortoiseshell, horn, mother of pearl and pewter 'Boulle' side table, Circa 1860 in premiere partie, having a rectangular top, the friezes centred by an ormolu mask, with single frieze drawer,…

A good late 19th century bureau plat, the top of serpentine…

Late 19th Century Boulle Bureau Plat

A good late 19th century bureau plat, the top of serpentine form with heavy cast ormolu border, above a shaped conforming apron, drawer to one side, the red tortoiseshell boulle lined with cut brass incorporating frolicking putti in a field of foliate…

Louis XV boulle center table desk, with single drawer, mother…

Louis XV Boulle Inlaid Center Table with Ormolu Mounts

Louis XV boulle center table desk, with single drawer, mother of pearl inlay & ormolu mounts, 147 cm x 90 cm, 78 cm high, some restoration needed. The inside of the drawer bears a Christie's Auction label 'Removed from Hughendon Manor & Curzon St. The…

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and gilt boulle bureau

Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Boulle Bureau with Gilt Accents

A Victorian mother-of-pearl and gilt boulle bureau

A fine Napoleon III ormolu mounted, red-tortoisehell and brass…

Napoleon III Boulle Marquetry Centre Table

A fine Napoleon III ormolu mounted, red-tortoisehell and brass inlaid Boulle marquetry centre table, French, 19th century, 76.5 cm high, 151 cm wide, 90 cm deep

A French Boulle serpentine card table, 19th century, with…

French Boulle Serpentine Card Table with Ormolu Mounts

A French Boulle serpentine card table, 19th century, with ormolu mounts throughout, central cartouche to the frieze on cabriole legs and brass capped feet, with glass top, 76 cm high, 87 cm wide and 47 cm deep

A Boulle and ormolu card table, French, 19th century, with a…

19th Century French Boulle Card Table

A Boulle and ormolu card table, French, 19th century, with a shaped top above a frieze with central classical motif, supported on four slender cabriole legs, 78 cm high, 91 cm wide and 46 cm deep

A Boulle and Ormolu salon table, French, 19th century, with…

French Ormolu Salon Table with Boulle Marquetry

A Boulle and Ormolu salon table, French, 19th century, with fine ormolu mounts throughout, central drawer to the frieze, supported on cabriole legs, 76 cm high, 100 cm wide and 65 cm deep

Attributed to Nicolas Sageot, Louis XIV bureau mazarin, French…

Louis XIV Tortoiseshell Bureau Mazarin

Attributed to Nicolas Sageot, Louis XIV bureau mazarin, French c. 1700, ormolu-mounted and brass-inlaid tortoiseshell, ebony and ebonised boulle marquetry, inlaid overall with Berainesque motifs, rectangular top centrally inlaid with a figures beneath a…

A Louis XVI style cut brass inlaid and ebonised Boulle manner…

Louis XVI Style Brass Inlaid Side Table

A Louis XVI style cut brass inlaid and ebonised Boulle manner side table rectangular, with foliate inlay to the top and a single drawer, cabriole legs, losses and lifting to the marquetry inlay, 67 x77.5 x 42 cm

A 19th century Boulle manner cut brass inlaid fold over card…

Boulle-style brass inlaid card table with cabriole legs

A 19th century Boulle manner cut brass inlaid fold over card table serpentine rectangular top, with inlaid panels to the top, sides and reverse, green baize interior, losses and lifting to inlay in places, cabriole legs, 88 x 76.5 x 44 cm

A 19th century French Boulle table for seasonal interior…

French Boulle Table for Rare Plants

A 19th century French Boulle table for seasonal interior display of rare plants, of classical style, the oblong top with 'D' ends with removable lid and internal metal tray, standing on four turned and fluted legs with shaped 'X' stretcher base and…

French brass inlaid tortoise shell boulle card table, ebonised…

Boulle Card Table with Brass Inlay and Cast Legs

French brass inlaid tortoise shell boulle card table, ebonised with cast metal mounted cabriole legs

French Boulle card table: ornate fold over table inlaid with…

Boulle Card Table, Brass and Turtle Shell, c1840s

French Boulle card table: ornate fold over table inlaid with brass and turtle shell with ormolu mounts, c1840s. Fair/good condition.

A Boulle display table, French, third quarter 19th century the…

Boulle Inlaid Display Table with Gilt Bronze Mounts

A Boulle display table, French, third quarter 19th century the rectangular glazed top above a serpentine frieze centered by a mask, raised on cabriole legs, the whole with scrolling inlaid brass strap work and gilt bronze mounts and sabots, 72.5 cm wide,…

A Boulle fold over card table, French, third quarter 19th…

French Boulle Fold Over Card Table with Bronze Mounts

A Boulle fold over card table, French, third quarter 19th century the hinged serpentine top with a conforming shaped frieze, centred by a mask, raised on cabriole legs, the whole with scrolling inlaid brass strap work and guilt bronze mounts, 89 cm wide,…

A gilt bronze, boulle and ebonised bureau de dame, French,…

French Boulle and Bronze Bureau de Dame, 1880

A gilt bronze, boulle and ebonised bureau de dame, French, circa 1880 140 cm high, 82 cm wide, 42 cm deep

A boulle and tortoiseshell inlaid fold over card table in the…

Louis XIV Style Inlaid Card Table

A boulle and tortoiseshell inlaid fold over card table in the Louis XIV style 76 cm high, 80 cm wide, 51 cm deep