Empire, Paris ca. 1825. Signed Benar. Joseph-Marie Bénard, ebenist, active from 1825 to 1850

Flamed mahogany. Rectangular, black/beige speckled Portor marble top. Front with broad drawers over double-doors, the inside with 3 drawers "à l'anglaise". Bronze paw feet in the front, square feet in the rear. The door panels, set with painted porcelain medallions, edged in gilt brass friezes. The medallions depict the Allegories of Music and Poetry.

130.5 x 60 x 92 cm.

Key missing. 1 crack, losses.

Provenance:
- Bedroom of Mademoiselle Mars, 1 rue de la Tour-des-Dames, ca. 1825
- Auction after the death of Louis-Alphonse Bronner, son of Mademoiselle Mars, 12-14 November 1874, Lot No. 78.
- Collection Monsieur Loyer.
- Acquired by Loyère Fils, rue de Tournon, 1937 Paris.
- Collection Dr. Guy Ledoux-Lebard.
- Osenat Auction: "L'Empire à Fontainebleau : Succession Ledoux-Lebard chez Osenat", Fontainebleau, 09 December 2006, Lot No. 133.
- French collection.

Anne-Françoise-Hippolyte Boutet (1779-1847), also known by her maiden name Mademoiselle Mars, was a renowned French actress who appeared, inter alia, in plays by Molière and Marivaux.
She commissioned the Ebenist Joseph-Marie Bénard, who enjoyed a great reputation for his pompous contemporary style, to furnish her rooms. Mademoiselle Mars' favourite room, the bedroom, contained a complete suite of furniture by the artist, including the chest of drawers which is on offer.

Exhibition:
-Musée des Arts décoratifs, "Chefs-d'œuvre des grands ébénistes 1790-1850 de G. Jacob à Giroux", 1951, Paris. (Cf. Fig. 15.)

Literature:
- Denise Ledoux-Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIX Siècle, Editions de l'amateur, 1984, Paris, p. 66.
- Denise Ledoux-Lebard and Jacques Robiquet, exhibition catalogue "Chefs d'oeuvre des grands ébénistes 1790-1850, de G. Jacob à Giroux", Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris, January-February 1951, pp. 17-18