Boulle Marquetry Jardinière, Napoleon III period – Mid 19th century

This Boulle marquetry planter, made during the Second Empire in the mid-19th century, features a dynamic silhouette and a decorative richness emblematic of the Napoleonic III era. Its inverted cavetto top is highlighted by a bronze gallery that accentuates the line and showcases the chiselled bronze fittings placed at each corner. The tray is surrounded by an openwork brass gallery. It is equipped with leaf-shaped bronze handles that add both elegance and functionality. The belt, animated by a harmonious curve, is adorned with marquetry of brass and tortoiseshell in the purest Boulle tradition, where arabesques and plant motifs stand out brilliantly against the glowing background. The interior of the planter contains a black tin liner, designed to hold plants or floral arrangements while preserving the exterior marquetry. Naturally, its use as a storage space is also conceivable. The base, composed of curved legs, extends the fluid line of the belt. Each leg is decorated with an acanthus leaf drop that continues into a chiselled rod following the curve until it meets a bronze foot adorned with scrolls. The whole forms a refined, luxurious piece that perfectly represents the ornamental craftsmanship of the 19th century. ******** Period: Mid-19th century. Restoration in our cabinetmaking workshop. Dimensions: Width: 69 cm. Depth: 45 cm. Height: 80 cm. Reference 316V.