so-called bureau plat, modified Régence style, second half of the 19th century, executed by MATHIEU BÉFORT (1813-1880) - known as BÉFORT JEUNE (Befort the Younger), based on the work of cabinet-maker NICOLAS SAGEOT and ANDRÉ-CHARLES BOULLE, gently curved hardwood frame, in combination of brown tortoise shell replacement, floral and rocaille-shaped brass inlays, three frieze drawers, three more drawers on the back designed as sham drawers, gilt bronze female heads at the corners, so-called espagnolettes, and bronze mascarons in the frieze, heavy bronze feet in lion paw shape, blackened leather writing surface, c. 80 x 200 x 100 cm, in restored condition. (DOC)

MATHIEU BÉFORT (1813-1880) ran a thriving business on Rue Neuve-Saint-Gilles 1 and 6 in Paris from 1844 to 1880. He was the son of Jean-Baptiste Béfort (1783-1840), a Belgian known for having furnished the rooms of the Duc d'Orléans (1640-1701, brother of King Louis XIV). His elder brother, Bernard Béfort, was active between 1836 and 1858 - from this time onwards Mathieu took over his business until 1878. He specialised in the production of so-called Boulle furniture and was particularly inspired by Boulle’s high-quality creations. In 1880, the company was taken over by the equally renowned cabinet-maker Joseph-Emmanuel ZWIENER.