18th Century Louis XV Transition Small Cabinet Ecritoire Stamped by Bon Durand
Excellent and rare small marquetry cabinet écritoire made and stamped by the important Parisian cabinet maker Bon Durand, ca. 1765:
the cabinet of straight rectangular outline and canted corners standing on four small cabriole legs opens with two doors to reveal two movable shelfs. Above the doors a writing slide with dark green leather lining. Both doors and the sides with excellent marquetery “en ailes de papillon” within cartouche panels of curvy outline. The cabinet is topped by a marquetry top which echoes the marquetry decoration of the doors and the sides. The gilt bronze sabots and corner decoration still display the Louis XV style whereas the keyhole surrounds already show neoclassical elements of the Louis XVI style. The back of the cabinet bears the stamp of the Parisian cabinet maker Bon Durand as well as the one of the Paris’ cabinetmakers jury “JME”.
Bon Durand (master 1761) establishes his workshop in the rue de Charenton where he worked from 1761 until the outbreak of the French Revolution. His main clients were fellow cabinet-makers such as Pierre Migeon and Denis Genty as well as tapissiers like Presle and Bonnemain. He seems to have been very productive because his stamp can be found on many pieces of furniture in the styles of Louis XV, Transition and Louis XVI, such as dressers, secretaries, flat desks, vitrines or libraries. For his high quality furniture and their marquetry decoration, partially with floral elements, Bon Durand mainly used mahogany, rose- and kingwood. Furniture of Bon Durand is part of the collections for example of the Musée des Arts décoratifs of Lyon, Waddesdon Manor in London and the Mobilier National in Paris.
For a secrétaire à abattant showing the same marquetry and proportions as the cabinet offered here compare Pierre Kjellberg, Le mobilier francais du XVIIIe siecle, Paris, 2008, p. 334c
Condition: very good, min. wear consistent with age and use, min. fading, French polish refreshed – detailed condition report on request
