Louis XV Beech Marquise by Jean Baptiste Boulard, 1755
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A Louis XV beech marquise, by Jean Baptiste Boulard (maitre in 1755) the moulded frame with flowerhead cresting, cabriole legs and apron, stamped twice J.B. Boulard and upholstered in silver, gold and peony woven brocade.. provenance: Andre & Cecile Fink Antiquaries, Sydney, 2008, other notes: Jean-Baptiste Boulard (1725-1789), began as an apprentice to the renowned menuisier Michel Avisse. Boulard worked almost exclusively for the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne from 1777, supplying a plethora of menuiserie to the Crown at Versailles, the Tuileries, Fontainebleau and Saint-Cloud. He collaborated with fellow menuisier Jean-Baptiste Sene (maitre in 1769), with whom he shared many Royal commissions, to deliver a suite of chairs for Mme Elisabeth's dining room at Montreuil and again in 1786, to deliver a suite of twelve dining-chairs for the salle a manger of Louis XVI at Versailles (P. Verlet, Le Mobilier Royal Francais, vol. I, pp. 81-83, n. 31, pl. Xlv).
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- Beech - Beech, a pale coloured timber, is native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America and classified as a hardwood, although comparitively "soft" when compared with oak or ash. It has long been popular with with country craftsmen, particulary chair makers, as unlike ash it is suitable for turning.
- Signed or Stamped - A signed piece of furniture may mean that the maker has signed (and hopefully dated) the piece in the same way that we sign a cheque, but more likely, that it bears evidence of the name of the maker, wholesaler or retailer as a paper label, metal plaque, impressed into the timber or in later pieces after about 1880, stamped onto the timber with an ink stamp.
The 'signature' or stamp will always be in an unobtrusive position: under the top of a table, on the underside of the rails of a chair, inside a drawer or on the back.
The fact that a piece is 'signed' considerably enhances its value. Signed Australian furniture is extremely rare, and for imported furniture, it is a mark of quality of the item, as only the items by the top makers or retailers were 'signed' - Cresting - The decorative carving at the top of a piece of furniture, such as a sideboard back, a mirror, or a chair back.
- Cabriole Leg - The cabriole leg evolved from an elongated scroll, curving out at the knee which may or may not be carved, and forming a serpentine shape as it descends to the foot.
First introduced into English furniture in the late 17th century, cabriole legs were widely used during the Queen Anne and early Georgian periods, where they frequently terminated in a pad foot or ball and claw foot. The style has had many imitators since then. The cabriole leg was re-introduced in the mid-19th century, and is commonly associated with the balloon-back dining or drawing-room chairs made in walnut, mahogany or, in Australia, cedar. The Victorian cabriole leg, on the whole, was rather more slender than the earlier form, following the French style, which emphasized the delicacy and daintiness of the chairs they were designed to support. Cabriole legs are sometimes found on windsor chairs, especially those made during the 18th century. - Provenance - A term used to describe the provable history of an antique or work of art, and thus an additional aid to verifying its authenticity. Provenance can have an inflating effect on the price of an item, particularly if the provenance relates to the early settlement of Australia, a famous person, or royalty. Less significant are previous sales of the item through an auction house or dealer.
- Apron - A decorative wooden panel that sits underneath the top surface of a table or chair, and unites the top of the piece with the legs, running at right angles to the underside. On carcase furniture such as a chest or wardrobe, the apron sits below the drawers or doors and attaches to the legs.
On carcase furniture without legs the panel under the drawers or doors sits on the floor and is termed a plinth.
An apron can provide a decorative touch to an otherwise unadorned piece of furniture and at the same time provide structural support and strength. They can be carved or pierced and quite elaborate.
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