Coffer
c. 1700–20
Medium
Oak, tortoiseshell, brass, gilded copper, gilded bronze, pewter, ebony, and oiled paper
Dimensions
44.5 × 73 × 48.3 cm (17 1/2 × 28 3/4 × 19 in.)
Classification
chest (case furniture)
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
156442
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle was responsible for some of the finest examples of French furniture made during the reign of Louis XIV (1643–1715). Boulle perfected the technique of veneering furniture with a rich marquetry of tortoiseshell, pewter, and gilt copper, and he further enriched his surfaces with sculptural gilt bronze mounts. Acclaimed for his brilliant designs and superb execution, Boulle was commis- sioned by the most discerning and demanding patrons in France, among them mem...