Rare fine quality French 18th century secretaire cabinet attributed to RVLC

Price on request

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Object Description

An extremely rare French fine quality mid 18th century (circa 1760) Louis XV tulipwood, amaranth, stained sycamore and fruitwood floral marquetry & parquetry secretaire cabinet with tambour front, attributed to Roger Vandercruse, also known as Lacroix (1728-99).

An almost identical cabinet can be found in ‘The Petit Palais’ Museum in Paris, France attributed to Roger Vandercruse and a very similar cabinet sold by Christies in 2014 stamped ‘R.V.L.C.’ – please see links to these items below:

The secretaire consists of a shaped Breche a’Alep marble top of serpentine form to the front with a moulded edge leading down to an oak carcass veneered in tulipwood and amaranth with stained sycamore and fruitwood floral and foliate marquetry and parquetry decoration with superb ormolu mounts of typical Rococo design.

The piece consists of a tambour front with floral marquetry decoration with two ormolu escutcheons, the tambour opening to reveal two unusually hinged doors with six small drawers below all with superb parquetry designs and ormolu flower design knob handles.

This leads down to a secretaire drawer with superb parquetry decoration to the front with ormolu escutcheon and key, the drawer opening to reveal floral marquetry panels and tooled red leather writing surface with secret compartment below.

This leads down to two doors of serpentine form with floral marquetry decoration, the doors opening to reveal marquetry panels also to the inside of the doors with two long drawers to the top with ormolu escutcheon plates with an open storage area below.

Below the cupboards is a shaped apron with ormolu floral and foliate mount all supported on cabriole legs, the front legs with ormolu mounts, the sides superbly shaped with floral and foliate marquetry panels and the back is of oak.

There is evidence of possibly a stamp or makers mark below the marble but this cannot be deciphered but the cabinet is attributed to Roger Vandercruse, also known as Lacroix (used the initials RVLC as a stamp on some furniture).

Roger Vandercruse was born in France in 1728, he was the son of a cabinet maker and belonged to the most important dynasty of French cabinet makers of the 18th century. Just before his father died in 1755 he took over the business when he also became a Master Craftsman, he was well respected in his guild and was made adjudicator between 1765-1770. Roger Vandercruse was known for producing fine pieces of furniture using woods such as tulipwood, amaranth and Kingwood with floral marquetry and geometric designs of circles and lozenges etc. He supplied furniture and worked for various people such as his brother-in-law, the Master ebeniste Jean-Francois Oeben, he supplied furniture to the dealer Pierre II Migeon 1751-1758, also supplying the French Royal household between 1769-1774 through the Court cabinet maker Joubert and worked for the marchand-mercier Poirier in the 1760’s-70’s as well as selling directly to various private clients until his death in 1799.

As mentioned above an almost identical cabinet can be found in ‘The Petit Palais’ in Paris, France, also not stamped but attributed to Roger Vandercruse and a very similar cabinet sold by Christies in 2014 stamped ‘R.V.L.C.’ – please see links to these items below:

http://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/combination-furniture-commode-doors-secretaire-drawer-wardrobe

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-louis-xv-ormolu-mounted-tulipwood-stained-sycamore-5812523-details.aspx

This secretaire cabinet is in excellent condition for age, is of stable construction and can go straight into a home or collection – this piece is an extremely rare item, in wonderful condition and undoubtedly by the Master Craftsman Roger Vandercruse.

Object Literature

As mentioned above an almost identical cabinet can be found in ‘The Petit Palais’ in Paris, France, also not stamped but attributed to Roger Vandercruse and a very similar cabinet sold by Christies in 2014 stamped ‘R.V.L.C.’ – please see links to these items below:

http://www.petitpalais.paris.fr/en/oeuvre/combination-furniture-commode-doors-secretaire-drawer-wardrobe

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-louis-xv-ormolu-mounted-tulipwood-stained-sycamore-5812523-details.aspx

Object Condition

excellent condition for age

Object Details

Dealer Opening Times

By appointment only.

Dealer Contact

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07703306451
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+44 (0)7703 306451
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Dealer Location

Near to Stowmarket
Suffolk
UK

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