A Napoleon III period side table with a quadrangular structure veneered in blackened pearwood, adorned with rich Boulle marquetry in brass and red tortoiseshell forming an arabesque design composed of foliate scrolls, rocaille motifs, and small flowers. The whole is enhanced by beautiful gilt-bronze mounts featuring atlas figures with clasped hands, acanthus leaves, and an apron. The top is framed by a gadrooned molding supporting a black marble slab with rounded edges. It opens with a door secured by a lock and key.
Very few pieces of missing wood were found on this piece: two small fragments of tortoiseshell and a few strips of inlay. The main task, however, consisted of reattaching all the inlaid surfaces and brass inlays by rehydrating them with glue.
Before restoration 
Lack of scales 
Resin plugs 
Missing netting and veneer chip 
Before restoration 
Atlante before cleaning 
Before restoration 
Lack of scales 
Before restoration 
Blistered scale 
Before restoration 
Lack of net 
Door panel slot 
Lack of netting and delamination
After removing the old cellulose varnish applied during a previous restoration, the piece was filled with charcoal powder and re-stained with a mixture of logwood and gallnuts. A colorless French polish was then applied. All the bronze mounts were cleaned ultrasonically.
After restoration 
After restoration 
After restoration
Absolutely magnificent. Exceptional work. I would love to reach that level someday…
Thank you so much
Good morning
What expertise! It's only found in workshops like yours! Bravo!
My passion is restoring beautiful small antique marquetry furniture and jewelry boxes, and I've learned a lot on the job. I just bought a Boulle marquetry jewelry box in very poor condition, and before committing to it, I'm trying to find some advice. .
— In some places the scale is blistered and in others it forms small waves; how should this be treated?
— I noted in your comments that "the main part of the work consisted of reattaching all the marquetry surfaces and brass inlays by hydrating them with glue." Is this fish glue? Should it be diluted? How should the procedure be carried out?
I would be grateful if you could help me save this company… by contributing to my education, but at 88 years old I won't be competing with you :o)
With thanks
Sincerely
Good morning,
To remedy your problem, you need to rehydrate the veneer of your box by injecting fish glue under vacuum. The first step involves injecting the glue for one hour. Then, after cleaning, place it back under pressure with two layers of newspaper on each surface for at least 72 hours, changing the paper every 12 hours to absorb the excess moisture from the glue.
I hope this will be of use to you.
Best regards
Thank you for these tips, which I will definitely use. I understand why there are so few of you in this profession. .
Well done
Sincerely