peinture en bois Archives • Ébénisterie Mathieu Vath

Mazarine Chest of Drawers

June 6, 2019May 31, 2021 Mathieu Vathconvenient, Marquetry, Uncategorized, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, French polish, 17th century

This week, we're revisiting the restoration of a Louis XIV period commode, a commode known as a Mazarine commode. But where does the name "Mazarine" come from? Well, it seems that the first example was made for the famous Mazarine Library, quite simply. Moreover, the illustrious creator of the commode was none other than André Charles Boulle himself. For Louis XIV's bedroom at Trianon, he revolutionized a type of furniture in 1708: the commode, which takes its name from its "practical" aspect compared to the chests that were widely used at the time. Today, we're presenting […]

Tool cabinet – The top doors

March 27, 2019May 31, 2021 Mathieu VathCopy of an old, Creation, Marquetry

For these marquetry designs, I drew inspiration from Pierre Ramond's book, "André-Charles Boulle, Cabinetmaker, Chaser, and Marquetry Maker to the King." I used the marquetry drawings from the Boulle workshop cabinet (circa 1715–1720). I simply modified them by removing the birds and the butterfly to simplify the design. Then, I partially employed the "Boulle" method for the acanthus leaves and the vase. Finally, I used the wood painting technique for the flower bouquets.