Offered by Franck Baptiste Paris
Rare carriage case with systems in rosewood veneer and solid rosewood. All the faces offer a
sumptuous decoration in marquetry of cubes with sections in wood of wire and « bois de
bout* » whose contrast creates a three-dimensional optical illusion.
It opens with a flap on top that reveals a large locker and a small lockable side compartment.
A judicious system allows to free two secrets, the first one, by activating the closing hook of
the flap, frees a space lined with velvet dedicated to the mail and the second one, by pushing
the screw of the lock, makes the whole front panel tilt. The latter, which uncovers three small
drawers, serves as a writing tablet and transforms our bow into a travel cabinet.
Very good condition, oak background.
Original key, lock and keyhole.
High quality cabinetry with solid rosewood drawers and compartments.
Parisian work of the Louis XV period, around 1750-1760.
Dimensions :
Height : 21 cm ; Widht : 40 cm ; Depth : 27 cm.
Origin :
Sale of the PEÑARD Y FERNANDEZ collection, Palais Galliera, December 7, 1960.
Collection of the great banker Jean Marc Vernes (1922-1996), Paris.
Our view :
The box we present allowed the elite of the nobility to keep their precious belongings and to
be able to write during long carriage trips.
The presence of solid rosewood, hinges and locks in gilded bronze with mercury, refer us to a
very great Parisian cabinetmaker active during the decade. 1750-1760.
The decoration called « Oeben’s cubes » and the presence of a system are reminiscent of the
productions of the king’s cabinetmaker Jean François Oeben, or Jean Pierre Latz (1691-1754),
both whom made a few cases of this type.
« Bois de bout* » : In carpentry or marquetry, « bois de bout » is the cutting of a piece of
wood into a slice giving a pattern of evenly spaced veins. The « bois de bout » is sawn
perpendicular to the grain or fiber, or cut transversely into the log. The section is said to be
« bois de bout », as opposed to cutting in « bois de fil ».
