Louis XIII Archives • Ébénisterie Mathieu Vath

Small Antwerp cabinet in ebony and tortoiseshell

January 31, 2025August 22, 2026 Mathieu VathCabinet, ebony, Louis XIII, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration

Restoration of a cabinet opening with nine drawers arranged in five rows (six small drawers in the top row, one small central drawer, and two wide drawers in the lower section, each simulating two drawers) with turned ivory knobs. It is set into a base, itself opening with a wide drawer in the frieze, with four faceted legs connected by a flat, frame-like stretcher and punctuated by ball feet. This octagonal base, characteristic of Antwerp furniture, allows us to date this cabinet to around 1660, at the very end of the Louis XIII period […]

Louis XIII style desk

October 2, 2019May 31, 2021 Mathieu VathLouis XIII, Marquetry, Uncategorized, Veneering - Marquetry, restoration, furniture restoration

A look back at the restoration of a 17th-century Louis XIII table. It is made of solid walnut and veneered with walnut, ebony, ivory, and boxwood. This table had spent a long time in an attic, and unfortunately, the tabletop suffered considerably. Many sections of veneer were missing. The restoration therefore began by removing what little veneer remained. It was very easy; it was completely detached. I simply had to lift it with a thin blade, and it came right off. After having […]

Louis XIII Cabinet

September 4, 2019May 31, 2021 Mathieu Vathviolet wood, Solid Wood, Cabinet, Vacuum bonding, Louis XIII, Veneering - Marquetry, restoration, furniture restoration

A look back at a fascinating restoration project (at least for me). So fascinating, in fact, that I forgot to take photos at the beginning! This cabinet dates from the 17th century and features two drawers in the cornice and two doors in the upper section. The base consists of two drawers in the frieze supported by eight turned feet and a top resting on ball feet. Inside are twelve drawers and two doors concealing an interior theater, as well as eleven more drawers. The feet, along with […]