louis XIV Archives • Ébénisterie Mathieu Vath

Louis XIV low bookcase

January 26, 2026October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathlibrary, Vacuum bonding, ebony, Louis XIV, Boulle marquetry, Napoleon III, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, French polish, library display case, 19th century

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

January 22, 2026October 27, 2026 Mathieu VathBronzes, conservation, clock, Boulle marquetry, furniture restoration

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 […]

8-foot Boulle desk

July 11, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu VathDesk, Boulle marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

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, […]

Louis XIV double-bodied display case

February 27, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu VathLouis XIV, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, French polish, 17th century

Restoration of a Louis XIV period two-part display cabinet veneered in cedar, ferreol, and cherry, with moldings of blackened fruitwood. With its flat front and sides, it opens at the bottom with two doors. At the top, however, two grilled doors open beneath a straight cornice. Finally, the whole rests on ball feet. This type of marquetry is also found on furniture from the second half of the 17th century. Condition report: This piece of furniture presented numerous alterations. First, on the frame side, the nailed back panels ensured squareness and the […]

Louis XIV Library Display Case

March 14, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, ebony, Boulle marquetry, walnut, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, library display case, 17th century

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 […]

Louis XIV commode

December 15, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu VathVacuum bonding, conservation, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XIV commode constructed of fir and Rio rosewood veneer. The front is slightly convex, as are the uprights and rails. It features brass fluting. The remarkably crafted varnished bronze mounts have retained their original varnish. The restoration consisted of rehydrating all veneered surfaces by infiltrating glue. Missing areas were filled with rosewood veneers that were sawn, scraped, sanded, cut to the correct thickness as a backing, and UV-oxidized before being glued with hot glue. As you can see on […]

Money changer's office

November 11, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu VathDesk, Veneering - Marquetry, 17th century

A few weeks ago, I introduced you to a money changer's table. Well, here's its successor: the money changer's desk. Inspired by the eight-legged desks more commonly known as "Mazarin desks," the money changer's desk is a smaller version. Often transported, it must protect the valuables it contains. Through its marquetry and more or less elaborate veneers, it also displays the prosperity of its owner. For those interested in the origins of these pieces of furniture and the money changer's profession, I […]

Mazarine Chest of Drawers

May 4, 2022October 28, 2026 Mathieu Vathconvenient, conservation, Boulle marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 17th century, 18th century

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 […]

Mazarine Chest of Drawers

January 27, 2020October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathconvenient, Veneering - Marquetry, restoration, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style, French polish

Here is a charming Louis XIV period Mazarine commode. With a serpentine front, it opens with three drawers in three rows. Furthermore, a marquetry top featuring a compass rose on an end-grain wood background crowns it. Its fir frame is also veneered with a very fine olive wood veneer, both end-grain and straight-grain, and rosewood. The sides are made of ash, while the stringing and compass rose are boxwood. Finally, the rails are joined with straight dovetail joints on the sides, which has […]