Lot 314: A LATE LOUIS XV TULIPWOOD, AMARANTH AND MARQUETRY BONHEUR-DU-JOUR

BY GUILLAUME KEMP, CIRCA 1765-1770, POSSIBLY AS A MARCHAND FOR CHARLES TOPINO
The superstructure with a brèche d'Alep marble top with a three-quarter pierced gallery, above three drawers inlaid sans traverse with a shaped cartouche with flowers, flanked by doors inlaid with an oval medallion with a carnation, the border with canted angles fitted with rosettes, the sides with oval medallions decorated with roses, above a top centred with an oval medallion filled with a musical trophy on a striped ground, above a frieze fitted with a drawer and mounted with entrelacs, on slightly cabriole legs headed by acanthus rosaces and terminating in foliate sabots, indistinctly stamped 'G.K..P' and 'JME', the upper drawer with a circular label numbered '130', with a label with a blue border and with canted angles incribed in ink 'RD', the drawer originally with a further division for encriers.
39 1/2 in. (100 cm.) high; 28 1/4 in. (72 cm.) wide; 17 1/4 in. (44 cm.) deep

Acquired from L. Kraemer, Paris, 29 December 1916.

Guillaume Kemp, maître in 1764.

Executed with vibrant marquetry of musical trophies and pastoral motifs, this bonheur-du-jour reflects the influence of the prolific output of Charles Topino. Based in the rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Topino specialized in small movable tables and much of his work in marquetry was inspired by the ornamental borders of Chinese coromandel lacquer screens. Although several makers produced related funriture, including RVLC, this oval form of transitional bonheur du jour is most closely identified with Topino. From his daybook which survives, it is known that Topino executed completed works and provided marquetry panels of this type for the marchand-ébénistes. (A. Pradère, Les Ebénistes Français de Louis XIV à la Revolution, Paris, 1989, p.319.). Although Kemp is not known to have been a marchand-ébéniste, it certainly seems a possibility that Topino may well have been responsible for the Wildenstein bonheur-du-jour. Topino employed mounts provided by the fondeur Viret and chased by Chamboin and Dubuisson and gilt by Bicard, Girard and Vallet.

This model of escutcheon is more characteristic of the oeuvre of Berbard van Risen Burgh.

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.