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+-- Thread: Little love for Louis XIV (/showthread.php?tid=7108400)
Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
Today I give you a type of cabinet which came to prominence during the period of Louis XIV; the Bureau Mazarin.
Some of the more emblematic examples were constructed by Andre Charles Boulle (or in Boulle's style) and Pierre Gole.
This is a type of cabinet which had eight legs. The case consisted of two drawer stacks with a kneespace between. The kneespace is small, and not suited for accommodation of the sitter's feet, but they were used sidesaddle. The writing surface extends out in a variety of ingenious methods to facilitate using it.
Ornate, and typically adorned with marquetry, the form is not well known by many modern woodworkers. Its impact on the evolution of cabinet construction is difficult to overstate. This was an enormously influential form, and virtually hopped over the channel, easily working its way into the William and Mary style where it was a natural fit. Long after the original verbatim Bureau Mazarin had ceased to be, other furniture forms echoed this early progenitor. At the same time, reproductions continued to be produced from its inception even to today.I'll try to post some pictures to give an idea.
Incidentally, for anyone interested, Louis XIV is a baroque style.
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
One example
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
Another
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
A XIX century reproduction
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
The ingenious writing flap and foldaway top.
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Paul K. Murphy - 09-29-2015
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Pierre Gole. I've seen this one.
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Martin S. - 09-30-2015
I saw quite a few pieces of this style in the Louvre several years ago.
The workmanship is fantastic, but the style belongs in a New Orleans house of ill repute.
In other words, just a little too gaudy for my taste.
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Anji12305 - 09-30-2015
Horror Vacui
If a little is good, a lot isn't enough...
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - SteveS - 09-30-2015
Martin S. said:
The workmanship is fantastic, but the style belongs in a New Orleans house of ill repute.
Agreed. Louis the XIV or XV styles were more palatable.
Re: Little love for Louis XIV - Robert Adams - 09-30-2015
SteveS said:
[blockquote]Martin S. said:
The workmanship is fantastic, but the style belongs in a New Orleans house of ill repute.
Yup same here. Lots of stuff I can appreciate the craftsmanship but personally I would cover it in a layer of paint to avoid looking at it.
Agreed. Louis the XIV or XV styles were more palatable.
[/blockquote]