Boulle Dubois Cartel
Restoration of a Louis XV period brown tortoiseshell Boulle Dubois cartel clock, the dial of which bears an engraving with the monogram of Louis XV.
Boulle marquetry
Boulle Napoleon III liquor cabinet
Restoration of a Napoleon III liquor cabinet in tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. The liquor cabinet, an elegant and ingenious piece of furniture, appeared at the end of the 18th century. Initially designed for long carriage journeys, it allowed for the easy transport and serving of liqueurs. Its true rise in popularity, however, occurred in the 19th century. It then became a symbol of refinement and the French art of living. This piece of furniture takes the form of a box, called a "caisson," whose walls […]
Louis XIV low bookcase
Restoration of a low Louis XIV style bookcase, crafted in Boulle marquetry of brown tortoiseshell and brass, ebony, and chiseled and gilded bronze ornamentation. Its centrally projecting front opens with three glazed doors featuring scroll and foliage motifs. It rests on tapered legs. This type of three-part low cabinet was one of Boulle's greatest successes, and he himself produced several variations. The Louvre Museum, for example, possesses no fewer than six examples. Indeed, these […]
Doll's Head Clock by Baltazard Martinot
For our first project of the year, we needed to stabilize, consolidate, and restore the clock, while preserving its finish and harmonizing the overall design. Above all, we wanted to preserve the history and identity of the object, without dismantling it in any way. A masterpiece of Parisian clockmaking from the Grand Siècle, this remarkable clock, known as a "doll's head" clock, exemplifies Parisian clockmaking of the late 17th century, during the reign of Louis XIV. Its form is architecturally structured: a circular body, flanked by projections, supports a rich crown of gilt bronze. Indeed, this type appeared around 1670-1680 […]
Louis XV Cartel
This is the first cartel clock restoration undertaken by Raphael, focusing on this Louis XV cartel clock in Boulle marquetry of brown tortoiseshell and brass. Restoring a cartel clock is a complex task requiring considerable time and meticulous attention to detail. The curved shapes make gluing delicate. Large sections of the brass elements generally need to be reattached. Condition report: This cartel clock presented widespread soiling, an oxidized and tarnished varnish, as well as several lifting and missing pieces in the brass and tortoiseshell marquetry. In addition, there were signs of detachment […]
8-foot Boulle desk
Here is a restoration carried out earlier this year by Raphaël. It was a long but successful undertaking. In fact, I recently revisited this desk: it has perfectly withstood significant variations in temperature and humidity. The rest of this report is in Raphaël's own handwriting. A "Mazarin" Desk This desk dates from the Louis XIV period. It is covered with Boulle marquetry of brass on a red tortoiseshell ground. Eight console legs support the case; they are connected in groups of four by an X-shaped stretcher. On the front, […]
Regency Cartel
The restoration of five Boulle marquetry clocks, begun a few months ago, is now complete. Here is a Regency clock and its console, inlaid with tortoiseshell and brass on an oak frame. Measuring Time: Since time immemorial, humankind has sought to measure time. First came the gnomon, a simple stick planted in the ground, the ancestor of the sundial. Then came the clepsydra, where water flows, and later the hourglass, based on the same principle. Through these methods, people organized their social, religious, and […]
Louis XV Cartel
We are continuing our series on cartel clocks, which began a few months ago. Here are some images of the restoration of this Louis XV cartel clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry on an oak frame. Condition report: The structure is in a state of significant deterioration, and re-gluing the joints appears necessary. All the marquetry is detached or shows signs of glue dehydration. Furthermore, the clock has been heavily sanded, which has resulted in the disappearance of all traces of engraving on the brass elements. […]
Regency tabletop sign
Restoration of a Boulle marquetry wall clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass, adorned with chased and gilded bronze mounts. It features a monumental rooster (royal emblem), a central mascaron with a satyr's head, caryatids, and two doves beneath a draped dome. The movement bears the signature GRIBELIN. Nicolas Gribelin, son of Abraham Gribelin, Valet de Chambre-Clockmaker to the King, was born in Blois on November 27, 1637. At the end of the 17th century, he was among the most renowned clockmakers of his time.
Regency Cartel
Restoration of a Regency clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry, with a bronze Atlas bearing the dial. The clock exhibited significant structural and decorative alterations, necessitating a complete intervention according to the principles of conservation-restoration. Condition report: This clock, probably dating from the early 18th century, showed the marks of time: lifting marquetry, detachment of the tortoiseshell, oxidation of the brass, and numerous losses. Furthermore, the bronze Atlas, leaning under the weight of the celestial vault, was blackened. Indeed, decades of dust […]
Regency Cartel
Minor restoration/conservation work was carried out on this lovely Regency clock signed by the Dumont brothers in Besançon. Some minor repairs and replacements of missing brass and flakes were performed before the shellac finish was applied. The bronze mounts were removed and steam cleaned before being reattached.
Regency tabletop sign
Restoration of a Regency mantel clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry on an oak frame. Without its bronze mounts, this type of furniture loses its splendor. When it is restored to its original fittings, its symbols take on their full meaning, as its function is to tell the time. The Fame on the escapement and the eagle on the door are perfect examples. Originally, Fame was a Greek goddess who personified public reputation. The Greeks called her Pheme (Φήμη), the Romans Fama. Daughter of Gaia, this […]
Regency Cartel signed Clément Fiacre Paris
Restoration of a cartel clock in red tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. The movement is stamped by Clément Fiacre in Paris. Clément Fiacre, one of the most important clockmakers of his time, received his master's certificate on January 16, 1714. He settled in Paris and quickly gained renown. Established on Rue Saint-Denis around the mid-1740s, he created his work in the Regency style, where wood was richly worked, notably through tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. He also produced veneers in rosewood, amaranth, and other woods.
Regency Cartel
Restoration of a Regency clock case in Boulle marquetry on a brown tortoiseshell background. Since Antiquity, humankind has sought to master time and create a "timekeeper." Egyptian obelisks, water clocks, sundials, hourglasses. But it was in the 15th century that the first mechanical weight-driven clocks were made, with a single hand, but generally equipped with striking mechanisms. In the 16th century, the two-hour day, instead of 24, was adopted almost everywhere. Each city, however, retained its own meridian time until the advent of railways and […]
Louis XV cartel clock with crowned C
Restoration of a Louis XV cartel clock in tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. Its movement is signed Charles Voisin (1686-1760), master clockmaker in 1710. A distinctive feature of this clock is that its bronze mounts bear the mark of a crowned C. The crowned C: An edict of 1745 required bronze workers to mark their pieces with a small, distinctive letter: a C surmounted by a crown. They were thus required to pay a tax. This tax applied to both objects and furniture adorned with bronze. This mark therefore proves the payment of a tax on bronzes and […]
Louis XIV Library Display Case
Restoration of a small Louis XIV period display cabinet inlaid with foliate scrolls in amaranth, ebony, and maple, framed in olive and cherry wood. The marquetry on this piece is known as the Boulle technique, or superimposed marquetry. The cabinet had a significant number of missing veneers. The restoration work therefore consisted of replacing all these missing veneers with scraped and sanded veneer, prepared to the correct thickness before being glued with hot glue. The most interesting task was the reconstruction of one missing piece […]
RELIGIOUS CLOCK, Sarrabat Paris
Restoration of a "religious" clock from the third quarter of the 17th century, which chimes on the hours and half-hours. The dial and movement are signed "Sarrabat à Paris." Religious clocks were among the first clocks produced during the reign of the Sun King. Indeed, their use developed from 1660 onwards, thanks to the regulator pendulum developed by Huygens. This particular clock features Boulle marquetry of red tortoiseshell, brass, and pewter, set on a walnut frame. It is further adorned with gilt bronze mounts and ebony moldings. Thus, […]
Regency Cartel
Here are some images of the restoration of a Regency period cartel clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry on an oak frame. The movement is signed CLOUZIER A PARIS. Jacques Clouzier (1692-1754) was admitted as a master watchmaker by presentation of his masterpiece on July 5, 1692. He is among the greatest Parisian watchmakers of the Louis XIV and Regency periods. He became a member of the watchmakers' guild in the 1700s. He worked on Rue Saint-Antoine until 1726, then on Rue des Prêtres-Saint-Paul. Active until his death in 1754, he collaborated with the greatest cabinetmakers and bronze workers, such as […]
8-foot desk stamped Manet
Restoration of an eight-legged desk, commonly known as a "Mazarin" desk, from the Louis XIV period, late/early 17th century. Its frame is made of solid pear and softwood, with pear wood sides and drawer bottoms. It features two side cabinets, each with three drawers, and a central drawer above a middle cabinet with rounded edges. Two X-shaped stretchers connect the uprights and the eight console-like legs. The drawers are inlaid with pewter and blackened pear wood, depicting a late 17th-century design. The sides, as well as […]
Louis XV Cartel
Restoration of a Louis XV period clock case and its corbel, in pure Rococo style. It is made of solid oak and veneered with brass and tortoiseshell. Do you know what Rococo style is? Rococo style belongs to the early period of the Louis XV style (1723-1750) and reached its peak around 1730. It is distinguished by its rich naturalistic decoration. It draws inspiration from artificial grottoes and reconstructed rocks in asymmetrical compositions. A late heir to the Baroque, this decoration is complemented by seashells, mineral elements, cascading foliage, […]
Regency Cartel
Restoration of a large cartel clock (137 cm high) and its bracketed base, from the Regency period. Made of solid oak, it is veneered with Boulle marquetry of brown tortoiseshell and brass. It is further adorned with floral garlands, crosshatching, and foliage. Its chased and gilded bronze dial features interlacing patterns and birds. The Roman numerals are enameled, and a reserve bears the signature St Martin à Paris. The clock plate also bears the same name. Finally, on the capital, chased and gilded bronzes depict […]
Louis XV cartel clock with crowned C
Here are some images of the restoration of a clock case that some may have glimpsed during the work at the Mans'Art fair this year. Dating from the Louis XV period, it is inlaid with tortoiseshell and brass on an oak frame. The bronze pieces bear the hallmark of the Crowned C. The Crowned C is a reference to an edict of 1745 that required bronze workers to mark their pieces with a small distinctive letter, a C surmounted by a crown, thus subjecting them to a tax. This tax applied to both objects and furniture that […]
Mazarine Chest of Drawers
Restoration of a Louis XIV period commode, known as a Mazarine commode, veneered in brass and ebony on a softwood frame. Its drawers are serpentine: two full-length drawers surmounted by two half-drawers separated by an intermediate stile. Their fronts are made of softwood, their sides and bottoms of walnut. The brass decoration supporting the pendant handles features fine marquetry of scrolls, foliage, foliage, and arabesques. A geometric brass cartouche frames it and simulates keyhole escutcheons. The commode rests on four supports with […]
Esterházy Chest of Drawers
Restoration of this unusual piece of furniture from Austria/Hungary. I had some difficulty placing it geographically. It clearly didn't come from France, but rather from Eastern Europe. But from where? Fortunately, the engravings provide valuable clues. The clothing corresponds to the late 17th or early 18th century. The landscapes show mountains and villages, deciduous and coniferous trees, and several ruins of medieval castles. So it's not northeastern Europe, but rather Bavaria or Austria/Hungary. […]
Napoleon III worker
Restoration of a Napoleon III period sewing table inlaid with mother-of-pearl, brass, and ebony. As you can see from the photos, this sewing table was in very poor condition. Only the dedication of its owner saved it. Indeed, the restoration time would have been far too long considering the object's value. First, almost all the brass inlay on the base was missing. In addition, there was a significant amount of veneer missing. Finally, the passage of a chair and a dog bite had caused damage. But the […]
Mazarin Boulle Office
To end the year on a high note, here's a restoration that occupied a large part of my time this year and which reached its owner a few weeks ago. It's the restoration of an eight-legged writing desk, commonly known as a "Mazarin" desk. Constructed of solid oak and softwood, the sides and drawer bottoms are made of light walnut. The marquetry covering it consists of Caret tortoiseshell (Eretmochelys imbricata) on a vermilion red ground, and brass. All of this is framed by delicate ebony stringing. It is […]
Louis XV slant-front secretary
This week, a curious and very pretty Louis XV period secretary/desk with a slanted front in Boulle marquetry and rosewood. Yes, the reuse of Boulle marquetry wasn't only fashionable under Napoleon III! In fact, Boulle marquetry never ceased to have admirers in the 18th century. The renewed interest was particularly noticeable from the 1750s onwards. Prominent furniture merchants, such as Lazare Duvaux, resold them at exorbitant prices to prestigious clients. Madame de Pompadour herself bought a commode as a gift for her […]
Napoleon III Boulle marquetry games table
Congratulations to Damien (intern) for restoring this Boulle marquetry games table. It was quite a task. Almost all the brass veneers were peeling off, there were some missing brass pieces, but most importantly, many missing tortoiseshell pieces. The glues were severely dehydrated, judging by the blistering tortoiseshell. The games table was completely disassembled. All the missing brass pieces were cut out using a marquetry easel and then engraved with a burin. As for the tortoiseshell, we opted for […]
Napoleon III side table
This Napoleon III period sideboard, quadrangular in shape, is veneered in ebonized pearwood. It is further enlivened by rich Boulle marquetry in brass and red tortoiseshell, forming a decoration of arabesques, foliate scrolls, rocaille motifs, and small flowers. In addition, beautiful gilt-bronze mounts add rhythm to the piece: atlantes with clasped hands on the uprights, acanthus leaves, and an apron. A gadrooned molding also highlights the top, which is slabbed with a black marble top with a rounded edge. Finally, the piece opens with a door, […]
Napoleon III Boulle marquetry side table
A console table veneered in ebonized pearwood, with Boulle marquetry of brass on tortoiseshell depicting arabesques. It opens with a door adorned with an oval medallion. This reveals shelves in mahogany and mahogany veneer. Finally, it is richly ornamented with chased and gilded bronze: egg-and-dart friezes, caryatids in corner drops, interlaced friezes, acanthus leaf friezes, fruit, and florets. This Boulle cabinet required extensive restoration! Indeed, some pieces of brass, fillets, and especially a great deal of tortoiseshell were missing.
Small Boulle marquetry cartel clock
Restoration of a Napoleon III period marquetry clock in brown tortoiseshell on a black ground and brass. Despite dust, oxidation, and years spent in the depths of an attic, this small clock is in very good condition. Except for a missing piece of brass on the right side of the capital, it is complete. The gilding is still clearly visible beneath the layer of grime, and the structure is in perfect condition. The restoration was therefore straightforward: re-gluing all the marquetry under vacuum, then a light cleaning, and a varnishing with […]
Regency Cartel
A classic restoration was carried out on this Regency-era Boulle marquetry cartel clock in tortoiseshell. The missing brass pieces were replaced, and all the marquetry was re-glued using fish glue and vacuum infiltration. The entire piece was then varnished with a clear French polish, and the bronze mounts were cleaned with Panama wood.
Napoleon III Boulle marquetry side table
Restoring this piece of furniture is a classic case: a warped door with almost no brass inlay left. Fortunately, the marquetry on the door was fairly well preserved. Only a small piece of brass and a few pieces of dyed horn were missing. Nothing too serious. I first removed the bronze mounts. Then I recreated and glued all the missing inlays, reattaching any remaining pieces in the process. Next, I tackled the door. I removed the amaranth veneer from the back panel, straightened the door, and then reinstalled […]
Label signed "Louis David Carré in Paris"«
After several weeks of work, the restoration of this clock is finally complete. It is a Louis XV period clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry, with rosewood restorations. The dial is by Louis David Carré, nephew of Julien Le Roy, who became a master craftsman on December 31, 1748. Lodged at the Louvre from 1744, he was elected a juror in 1775. The greatest treasure of this clock lies in its bronze mounts. They are truly magnificent, and above all, they are in very good condition. There is only […]
Secretary Napoleon III
On the restoration side, there wasn't much to do: the brass fittings were reattached with fish glue and by infiltration, then stripped and varnished. The most difficult part of this type of furniture is the black stain. Over time, pear wood darkens, loses its color, and turns gray. It then needs to be stained, without, of course, obscuring the brass. To do this, I fill and polish the piece until the brass becomes a true mirror. Then, I apply a hot logwood stain, and then […]
Corner cabinet in Boulle marquetry from the Napoleon III period
A classic restoration of Boulle marquetry: rehydration of the old glue by infiltration, creation and gluing of the missing brass fittings, and reconstruction of the base, which was in poor condition but not beyond repair. Finally, the bronzes were cleaned and a clear French polish was applied. Proof that appearances can be deceiving: even a badly damaged piece of furniture can regain its former beauty.
Napoleon III Games Table
Restoration of a Napoleon III period games table in Boulle marquetry of red tortoiseshell and brass. I had to reproduce approximately 45 % of the marquetry on the tabletop.
Alexandre Morell's Cartel Boulle – The End
After several hours of cutting, gluing, re-gluing, and cleaning the surfaces, we finally reach the finishing stage. I chose to varnish this cartel clock with a French polish. This finish enhances the marquetry, protects it, and remains easily reversible, like all my work. I always use a clear shellac varnish, on wood as well as other materials. The varnishing process is difficult to explain: only hours and hours of practice allow you to acquire all the secrets of this traditional technique. Once […]
Alexandre Morell's Boulle Cartel – Marquetry
I reattached the structure, removed the brass, cleaned up the remaining animal glue, and eliminated the traces of superglue and neoprene adhesive. Next came cutting the new pieces of brass and tortoiseshell to fill the gaps. So, as usual, I took an impression of the missing piece. I then glued this paper onto a brass plate, which was itself glued with fish glue to a 4mm plywood base. This made the plate easier to cut. Retrieving the brass piece is simple: […]
Alexandre Morell's Cartel Boulle – Continued
Once the various structural elements were glued back together, I tackled the tortoiseshell and brass marquetry. As you'll see, on this clock it's in very, very bad condition; practically nothing is holding. So, all the brass has to be removed. The tortoiseshell, however, is holding well; it's only partially detached. The first step in restoring this marquetry is therefore to remove and set aside each brass element. The second is to clean off the old glue, […]
Alexandre Morell's Boulle Cartel
Here is my first client, or patient… whichever you prefer. It's a Boulle marquetry cartel clock in brown tortoiseshell, ebony, and brass. As the photos show, it's not in very good condition. A lot of the brass is missing, and what remains is peeling off everywhere. At first glance, it's always difficult to precisely date a Boulle cartel clock. Moreover, this one doesn't bear a maker's mark. On the other hand, it has corkscrew screws, typical of the 18th century, and few visible tool marks. Yet, I had a hunch it was a copy […]
