Secrétaire
Jean-Baptiste Tuart (fl.1741-1767)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1760
Materials
Oak carcass, ebonised, tulipwood, purpleheart veneer,Chinese lacquer, gilt bronze mounts, Breccia marble
Measurements
114 x 64 x 38 cm
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1245864
Summary
A lacquer secrétaire à abattant, French, Louis XV, circa 1760, stamped by Tuart and Boudin, the front and sides veneered with black and gold Chinese lacquer panels and mounted with gilt bronze, the serpentine 'Breccia' marble top above a fall-front opening to a writing surface and an interior fitted with small drawers veneered in tulipwood and purpleheart, above a pair of cupboard doors, on cabriole feet and foliate cast sabots. The cabinet maker Jean-baptiste Tuart (fl.1741-1767) worked for Léonard Boudin (1735-1807) who trained as a cabinet maker himself and was also acting as a dealer.
Provenance
Date of acquisition not recorded, but probably originally at 16 Charles Street, Mayfair, Mrs Greville's London home, and bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913) in 1942. This item found on the probate inventory record for Charles Street chattels at Polesden Lacey, found in the Dining Room, page 12.
Marks and inscriptions
Back: a coronet encircling a capital V / 2189 (stamped on back) Top of cabinet - under the marble : BOUDIN JME TUART JME
Makers and roles
Jean-Baptiste Tuart (fl.1741-1767), cabinetmaker Léonard Boudin (1735 - 1807), dealer Léonard Boudin (1735 - 1807), cabinetmaker