André-Charles BOULLE

ATTRIBUTED TO ANDRÉ-CHARLES BOULLE (1642-1732) RARE CHANDELIER WITH EIGHT ARMS OF LIGHT PARIS, CIRCA 1720 Regency period Chased and gilded bronze H. 98 cm Ø. 98 cm On the central body some wear to the gilding. A slight trace of oxidation. Remarkable condition with its original gilding. Has been skillfully equipped for electrification. Classified as a historical monument on April 10, 1945. Legal provisions : Article L622-18 of the code of the inheritance: The export out of France of objects classified as historical monuments is prohibited, without prejudice to the provisions relating to the temporary export provided for article L. 111-7. Article L622-7 of the code of the heritage: The objects classified as historical monuments cannot be modified, repaired or restored without the or restored without the authorization of the competent administrative authority The ring of suspension is decorated with a corolla of foliage. The ball of suspension is decorated with four foliage with crosses and four flower buds. The shaft forms a vase richly decorated with center of four consoles with smiling espagnolette busts and topped with an aigrette. The eight arms of light in console are richly decorated with foliage, small shells, flower buds and stylized shell. The binnacles are in cut foliage, resting on a ribbed button on a ribbed knob and the wicks are in corolla of a frieze of water leaves. of water leaves. The circular bowl from which the arm escapes, is with simple molding with foliage cartouches and four sheaths of foliage in the natural; the bottom knob is with a frieze of leaves. Salon of La Roche Guyon as it was shortly before 1987 with the Ester hanging (MH), the Heurtaut furniture (M.H.) and one of the consoles by Jumel as well as our chandelier. Twice in 1685, the minister of Louis XIV went to the workshop of the the workshop of the gallery of the Louvre to note, in spite of a very great the impossibility for the cabinetmaker to honor his orders. to fulfill his orders. Louvois even tries to make to make the great Dauphin patient concerning the famous cabinet which will be the masterpiece of Boulle. Provenance : Former Collection of the Château de la Roche-Guyon : This chandelier adorned the large salon of the castle of 120 square meters and dominated a furniture and tapestries of very great values of the castle of the duke of la Roche-Guyon : François VIII de la Rochefoucauld (Paris 1663-1728), first duke of la Roche-Guyon in 1679, fourth duke of la Rochefoucauld in 1680, marshal of camp on January 3, 1696, Grand Master of the king's wardrobe (1679 to 1718). François VIII de la Rochefoucauld married in 1679 Magdeleine-Charlotte Le Tellier (1665-1735), daughter of the marquis of Louvois (1639-1691), minister of Louis XIV and Superintendent of Buildings, Arts and Manufactures of France (from 1683 to 1691). The household lived most often in the apartment of the the former Hôtel de la Surintendance des Bâtiments du Roi in Versailles and Versailles and regularly went to La Roche-Guyon. André-Charles Boulle was attached to the Manufacture des Gobelins and was named first cabinetmaker of the King's Household by title and patent. Louvois knew the king's cabinetmaker and appreciated the excellence of his work. However, he had to intervene in numerous disputes between the king's protégé and his "clients" who often paid often paid in advance for work that was not delivered on time. delivered in time. Twice in 1685, the minister of Louis XIV went to the workshop of the the workshop of the gallery of the Louvre to note, in spite of a very great the impossibility for the cabinetmaker to honor his orders, despite a very large number of to fulfill his orders. Louvois even tries to make to make the great Dauphin patient concerning the famous cabinet which will be the masterpiece of Boulle. The two men know each other. It is thus plausible even certain that this superb bronze chandelier came from the workshop of of André-Charles Boulle. It is necessary to agree that the quality of the quality of the chasing and the general drawing is undeniably of the hand of the the hand of the master and resembles in all points the chandelier that the Louvre. (Fig. 2) The fire of Boulle's workshops on August 19, 1720, did not prevent the 78 year old chiseler from restoring his workshop with an establishment with an ardor and a verve that accompanied him until his until his death at 89 years old in Paris on February 29, 1732. It is thus through his father-in-law that the Duke of Roche-Guyon obtained this masterpiece ordered before the of the workshop in 1720. This chandelier would have been delivered later in 1732. We know that alterations and refurbishments of the château, including of the castle, including numerous additions, were carried out in 1740. Although the