214
French door sideboard in Boulle Napoleon III style, 19th century
Height x width x depth: 107 x 82 x 43 cm.
signed Hippolyte Edmée Pretot, inside the bronzes with the monogram H.P., who was the greatest creator of tortoiseshell furniture of the period between Louis Philippe and Napoleon III. Made of ebonised wood with rich Boulle-style decoration, with brass and tortoiseshell applications, inlays with plant motifs and arabesques, finely chiselled gilded bronze ornaments. The central panel shows two winged women facing each other with their wings joined, two birds drinking, and bronzes depicting the god Apollo on the sides. The top is made of shaped white marble.
Literature:
Hippolyte-Edmé Pretot, born in Paris in 1812 and died in 1855, is considered a specialist in multicoloured 'Boulle' marquetry, using materials such as ebony, copper, brass, horn, tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. He is described as an ébéniste-marqueteur, with expertise also in bronze work (i.e. the gilded/chased components that often accompany high-quality furniture).
Hippolyte-Edmé Pretot, born in Paris in 1812 and died in 1855, is considered a specialist in multicoloured 'Boulle' marquetry, using materials such as ebony, copper, brass, horn, tortoiseshell and mother-of-pearl. He is described as an ébéniste-marqueteur, with expertise also in bronze work (i.e. the gilded/chased components that often accompany high-quality furniture).
Pretot was active in Paris at the following addresses: 16, rue de l'Abbaye (1836); 11 bis, rue Saint-Germain-des-Prés (1841); and from 1846 at 3 and 5 rue du Harlay.
He exhibited at the Paris National Salon in 1849 and at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851, where he won a medal for furniture inlaid with semi-precious stones.
"Les artistes décorateurs du bois"
A historical text that includes chapters on inlay and marquetry, useful for contextualising the techniques used by Pretot and other master woodworkers.
“Un âge d’or des arts décoratifs : 1814–1848” (Alcouffe, Dion Tennenbaum, Ennes)*
Cited in the context of the technical study as part of the bibliography that helps to understand the artistic and decorative context of the period.
€ 8.000,00 / 10.000,00
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Live auction 361
ANCIENT FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART FROM 16th TO 20th CENTURY Including selected furnishings from the Count Luigi Rigi Luperti Collection
Palazzo Caetani Lovatelli, thu 11 December 2025
SINGLE SESSION 11/12/2025 Hours 15:00
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