Andre-Charles Boulle, cabinetmaker, carver and marquetry inlayer
This hardcover book with 208 full color pages and great illustrations presents André-Charles Boulle.
The author, a specialist in marquetry, brings a new light on the life and work of Andre-Charles Boulle, the French cabinetmaker, carver and marquetry inlayer of the King. He describes the world in which he lived, and shows a man with many gray areas.
André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732) was already at the age of 30 considered « the most skilled cabinetmaker of Paris » (Colbert). He was the only craftsman of his generation to gather several expertise to the beauty of the objects he makes.
His name is in fact associated with his talent of marquetry inlayer, the one who had developed the art of covering furniture with tortoiseshell and metal (brass, pewter or copper), process that took the name of Boulle marquetry. He was also a virtuoso of « Wood painting », a technique that combines various wood species to form bouquets, scrolls, garlands and arabesques.
He was also a draftsman, tabletier, carpenter and he mastered the art of bronze: he finally turned his own bronzes workshop where he sometimes carved his models and practiced carving and gilding.
He left us beautiful furniture, but also smaller objects: writing desks, consoles, clocks, boxes and numerous manuscripts or carved pictures that the author is pleased to present through numerous photographs and comment on stating their history, the techniques used, wood species and materials used.
Occasionally he accompanies their transcript, and to better reflect the many details, some large drawings are presented on folding plates.
The book begins with a reminder of marquetry techniques used by Boulle: the design, materials, and cutting tools, the part and the part-cons, wood marquetry (or wood painting), wood engraving.
He then recounts the life of the cabinetmaker, accurate historical context in the in the Paris craftsmen in the 17th century, his family with Jean Bolt, his father already cabinetmaker in ebony, his youth, its rapid ascent in crafts up to be accommodated during 60 years in the Louvre by the King who placed him over corporate regulations.
The author reminds us that the man was also a crazy art lover and a passionate collector, which made him live forever with creditors at the door and thereby go to jail for debt.
The text is illustrated with numerous photographs with descriptions of the works of Boulle not to mention those of some contemporary cabinet makers who influenced him or rather those who followed, and some of the later furniture showing panels which show panels of marquetry of the Master employed by others.
The book ends with a report in a Paris workshop who recently made a copy of a Boule cabinet.
This book is both historical, technical and descriptive.
Contents:
- Foreword by Daniel Alcouffe, conservator of the Louvre Museum
- History and techniques of marquetry
- The life of André-Charles Boulle
- The legacy of André-Charles Boulle
The French texts are written by Pierre Ramond.
Printed in 2011, this book is NEW and is 10 inches x 14 inches ( 25 cm x 35 cm ) and is over 9 pounds.
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