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.
tortoise-shell
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 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 […]
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. […]
Small Antwerp cabinet in ebony and tortoiseshell
Restoration of a cabinet opening with nine drawers with turned ivory knobs, arranged in five rows: six small drawers in the upper rows, one small central drawer, and two wide drawers in the lower section, each simulating two drawers. The cabinet is set into a base which itself opens with a wide drawer in the frieze. This base rests on four faceted legs, connected by a flat, frame-like stretcher and punctuated with ball feet. This octagonal foot, characteristic of Antwerp furniture, allows us to date this cabinet to around 1660, at the […]
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
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
