Small secrétaire in solid mahogany, stamped BOICHOD and JME, Transition period

Rare small secrétaire in solid mahogany, opening with a fall-front, a drawer above, and two lower doors housing a small removable chest. The fall-front, lined with leather, reveals four compartments and six small drawers with slightly curved fronts.
The carcass bottoms are in oak, and it is topped with a Belgian red griotte marble top, molded with a beak molding. The original chased and gilt bronze key escutcheons are retained.
Stamped BOICHOD and JME, Parisian work from the Transition period.
Fine state of preservation. Preventive restorations and French-polished finish carried out by an experienced cabinetmaker.

Pierre BOICHOD was a royal privileged cabinetmaker when he obtained his mastership on 15 February 1769, established on the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine at the sign of the Boule Blanche. He worked for his fellow cabinetmakers Jean-François OEBEN and Pierre MIGEON, and stamped his furniture with his name between two fleurs-de-lys to recall his royal privilege.
The core of his production consists of Transition and Louis XVI furniture, with very little or no bronze mounts, and mostly in mahogany, some of it solid wood; our secrétaire is a perfect example of this production.

Bibliography:
Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle – Pierre Kjellberg
Les ébénistes du XVIIIe siècle – Comte François de Salverte