Antique tea box with Boulle marquetry. France, S. XIX

Lovely antique tea box made of ebony-finished solid wood, with Boulle-style marquetry decoration and in very good condition. The box was made in France, during the period of Napoleon III (circa 1870). Inside it has two compartments to store tea and the utensils to make it. Its great condition is quite a remarkable feature: the deep black ebony-like finish is greatly preserved and the fine marquetry decoration is complete, with no missing pieces. The marquetry is made of golden brass, tortoiseshell and lapis lazuli; the bright colors of these materials are strongly highlighted by the black background. The box is rectangular in shape with beveled cover and hand-carved fringes at the top edges. The boxs sides bear a sober decoration of brass embedded strips that create sets of parallel lines located at the top and at the bottom. The ebony-like finish is wonderfully preserved: it shows no cracks or dents and keeps the lovely original glow. The inner compartments are similar in shape and size; each one has its own square-shaped lid with dark-walnut finish and embedded brass stripes. For its beautiful manufacture, this antique tea box is a very special piece that will delight any lover of delicate and exclusive items. Medidas: Ancho: 25 cm. Alto: 13 cm.History of André-Charles Boulle André-Charles Boulle (11 November 1642 28 February 1732) was a French cabinetmaker generally considered to be the most preeminent artist in the field of marquetry. Christened by his contemporaries as "the most skillful artisan in Paris," André-Charles Boulle's name is synonymous with the practice of veneering furniture with marquetry of tortoiseshell, pewter, and brass. Although he did not invent the technique, Boulle was its greatest practitioner and lent his name to its common name: boulle work. Boulle also specialized in floral marquetry in both stained and naturally colored wood. Many of his designs are illustrated in a published around 1720: Nouveaux dessins de meubles et ouvrages de bronze et de marqueterie. Before 1666 Boulle was awarded the title of Master Cabinetmaker; in 1672 the king granted him the royal privilege of lodging in the Palais du Louvre. In the same year, he achieved the title of Cabinetmaker and Sculptor to Louis XIV, king of France. This new title allowed him to produce furniture as well as works in gilt bronze such as chandeliers, wall lights, and mounts. Boulles works can be found in the Palace of Versailles, the Chantilly Castle, the Cheverny Castle, the Louvre Museum, the Wallace Collection and the Royal Collection in London and the Getty Center in Los Angeles.