Lot 140

140

A GERMAN BRASS-INLAID EBONY, WALNUT, FRUITWOOD AND 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY SECRETAIRE-ON-CHEST

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A GERMAN BRASS-INLAID EBONY, WALNUT, FRUITWOOD AND 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY SECRETAIRE-ON-CHEST

POSSIBLY BY ANTON LÜCHTENSTEIN, EARLY 18TH CENTURY

Details

A GERMAN BRASS-INLAID EBONY, WALNUT, FRUITWOOD AND 'BOULLE' MARQUETRY SECRETAIRE-ON-CHEST
POSSIBLY BY ANTON LÜCHTENSTEIN, EARLY 18TH CENTURY
Finely inlaid and etched with symmetrical scrolling foliate motifs, the rectangular top with moulded edge above six frieze drawers, with a hinged writing surface inlaid to the reverse with marquetry and enclosing a fitted interior with pigeon holes and thirteen brass-inlaid drawers, the brass support bars inscribed 'NI/CF/W' and 'CF/NI/M' respectively, the hinges and lock plates further engraved, the chest below with three top drawers, two central drawers, and one freize base drawer, raised on four square feet, stamped to the reverse with an encircled monogram 'VL' beneath a crown, the block feet later, probably English and 19th century
66 ¼ in. (168 cm.) high; 51 ½ in. (131 cm.) wide; 17 ½ in. (44.5 cm.) deep

Special Notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction. This lot will be removed to Christie’s Park Royal. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage and our fees for storage are set out in the table below - these will apply whether the lot remains with Christie’s or is removed elsewhere. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Christie’s Park Royal. All collections from Christie’s Park Royal will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Peter Horwood

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Lot Essay

Anton Lüchtenstein (fl. 1696-1716).
This impressive secretaire is embellished with a distinctive 'Boulle' marquetry pattern of dense scrolls and foliate-edged strapwork, and is contre-partie to its twin, sold Christie's, London, 12 December 2002, lot 126. These cabinets are closely related to a celebrated pair of coin cabinets in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich (R 388), which were supplied by the Düsseldorf cabinet-maker Anton Lüchtenstein to Elector Johann Wilhelm of the Palatine (1658-1716) in 1701. They are recorded in the Mannheifmer Residenz in 1730, and were transferred to Munich, where they are recorded in 1785 (G. Himmelheber, Kabinettschränke, Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, 1977, pp. 62-64, nos. 66-67). Lüchtenstein's characteristic style relates to that of Alexandre-Jean Oppenordt (circa 1639-1715), and particularly to his famous parquet floor executed for the Royal Swedish coach, commissioned by Charles XI (d. 1697), which is illustrated in A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, p. 65, fig, 11.

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