ebenisterie Archives • Ébénisterie Mathieu Vath

Louis XVI commode stamped JA LECLERE

September 4, 2021September 4, 2021 Mathieu Vathmahogany, convenient, stamp, Veneering - Marquetry

Jacques-Antoine Leclere (1744 – January 30, 1792) obtained his master craftsman's certificate in Paris on September 29, 1779. He worked on the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, then on the rue des Barres, and finally in the courtyard of the Jewish Quarter, a stone's throw from the Bastille. This cabinetmaker produced well-made Louis XV and Louis XVI pieces. He used rosewood, satinwood, mahogany, and also lacquer panels. His stamp can be found on secretaries, chests of drawers, and various small pieces of furniture. For example, a pair of Louis XVI half-moon commodes veneered […]

Louis XV/Transition Commode by Nicolas Abraham Couleru

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Louis XVI, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, polite, furniture restoration

This slightly curved commode, composed of three drawers and veneered with bottomless cubes of walnut, plum, and cherry, has a marquetry top depicting a bouquet of flowers on an amaranth ground. Plum or Quetchier wood is easily recognizable by its sapwood markings, which create a lighter pattern and lend an irregularity to the decoration. The frame is made of fir and walnut. It is difficult to define a precise style for this commode. Although Louis XV, it clearly foreshadows the arrival of the style's more restrained appearance […]

Empire X-Leg Desk

July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 Mathieu Vathmahogany, Solid Wood, Desk, Leather, Empire, Veneering - Marquetry

Here are some images of the restoration of this desk, with a solid mahogany base and mahogany burl veneer for the rest. Note that the recessed top is made from a single 12mm thick plank of solid mahogany burl. Here is the desk before restoration. The bulk of the work is on the legs. They are broken at the middle joint. They have already been repaired and are held together only by additional screws. Two cracks can be seen at the […]

Louis XV writing table

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Mathieu Vathviolet wood, Louis XV, Veneering - Marquetry

Before/after the restoration of a Louis XV writing table veneered in kingwood on solid oak. It has two side drawers and a central pull-out shelf beneath the leather-covered top. Besides the significant discoloration of the varnish, there were some small areas of peeling and missing veneer. The missing pieces were replaced with new veneer, which was sawn, scraped, and sanded, then cut to the correct thickness before gluing in order to avoid disturbing the patina beneath the bleached varnish. The […]

Louis XV slant-front secretary

June 15, 2021June 23, 2021 Mathieu Vathdonkey's back desk, Vacuum bonding, Brass, Boulle marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

This week, a curious and very pretty Louis XV period slant-front secretary/desk in Boulle marquetry and rosewood. And yes, it wasn't only under Napoleon III that the reuse of Boulle marquetry was fashionable. In fact, Boulle marquetry continued to have admirers throughout the 18th century. It was from the 1750s onwards that the renewed interest was most pronounced. Prominent merchants, such as Lazare Duvaux, began selling them occasionally at considerable prices to prestigious clients, […]

Regency chest of drawers

June 5, 2021June 5, 2021 Mathieu Vathconvenient, walnut, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, regency, furniture restoration

This small chest of drawers has a classic form typical of the Regency period. Still bearing the hallmarks of Louis XIV, the front is curved, the front uprights are rounded, and the sides remain straight. It opens with three drawers. Its uprights and the intermediate rails are decorated with brass fluting. The frame is entirely made of fir; the intermediate panels are dovetailed into the sides, and the back is composed of horizontal planks held in place by rabbeted nails. The drawers are constructed of walnut […]

Transition cylinder desk

May 22, 2021July 22, 2021 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, cylinder desk, Vacuum bonding, conservation, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, satin, secretary, Transition, 18th century

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to restore this magnificent Transition period (1780) roll-top desk. It is framed in oak and fir. The fall front is primarily veneered with rosewood laid in a paillon pattern, framed by a light stringing of boxwood and green-stained hornbeam, bordered by a thin band of amaranth. The back is veneered in satinwood. The central marquetry, on a tobacco-stained sycamore ground, depicts musical instruments and two doves taking flight, each carrying a musical score in its beak. This […]

Napoleon III side table

May 14, 2021May 31, 2021 Mathieu VathBoulle marquetry, Napoleon III, blackened pear tree, furniture restoration, French polish, 19th century

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 punctuated 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 with a lock […]

Napoleon III Boulle marquetry side table

May 7, 2021May 31, 2021 Mathieu VathBronzes, Vacuum bonding, Boulle marquetry, Napoleon III, blackened pear tree, furniture restoration, French polish, 19th century

A console table veneered in ebonized pearwood and inlaid with Boulle marquetry of brass on tortoiseshell in arabesque designs. It opens with a door adorned with an oval medallion, revealing shelves in mahogany and mahogany veneer. Rich ornamentation of chased and gilded bronze: egg-and-dart friezes, caryatids in corner drops, interlaced friezes, acanthus leaf friezes, fruit, and florets. This Boulle piece requires extensive restoration. Some pieces of brass, stringing, and especially a great deal of tortoiseshell are missing. Given its value […]

Transitional chest of drawers stamped LARDIN

April 20, 2021May 31, 2021 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, conservation, graft, LARDIN, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, satin, Transition

Restoration of a Transition period commode built of fir and oak and veneered with rosewood, framed with stringing of white hornbeam and green-stained wood, with a satinwood band surrounded by amaranth. The central medallion is satinwood veneer assembled in a herringbone pattern. The maker's mark and the JME (Journée des Métiers d'Étranger) are located at the base of the left rear leg. André-Antoine Lardin (1724 – August 10, 1790) obtained his master craftsman's certificate on July 1, 1750, and established himself on the rue de Charenton under the sign "Au Bois de Boulogne." He worked there until 1770, the date […]

Empire Dressing Table

April 11, 2021June 5, 2021 Mathieu Vathmahogany, Bronzes, hairdresser, Vacuum bonding, conservation, Leather, Empire, Jacob, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 19th century

A beautiful restoration and, above all, conservation effort has been undertaken on this lovely Empire-period dressing table. Its frame is made of oak and poplar, veneered with mahogany burl. The drawer sides and bottoms are solid mahogany. It rests on four column legs ending in casters and joined by an H-shaped stretcher. The frieze opens with a drawer revealing a writing surface lined with blue morocco leather, a pen case, and two compartments for inkwells, as well as two large drawers on either side for essentials […]

Regency Cartel

June 18, 2020May 31, 2021 Mathieu VathBoulle marquetry, regency

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.

Louis XV commode stamped JC Ellaume

June 10, 2019May 31, 2021 Mathieu Vathrosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Louis XV, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry

Restoration of a Louis XV period commode stamped JC Ellaume. This commode is veneered in rosewood and palisander with floral marquetry on the drawer fronts. The frame is made of oak and softwood. Jean-Charles Ellaume, also sometimes written as Allaume, received his master craftsmanship in Paris on November 6, 1754. Many pieces of furniture bearing his stamp are known. These are mostly Louis XV commodes. It was in his workshop on Rue Traversière that he produced numerous high-quality pieces of furniture for over thirty years, […]