Sloping desk in European varnish on a blue background. Richl - Lot 75

Sloping desk in European varnish on a blue background. Richly decorated with branching birds and butterflies in the Chinese style. Cambered legs with chased and gilded bronze sabots and falls. The flap reveals an interior entirely inlaid with rosewood, satinwood and rosewood end pieces decorated with branches. It features two layettes, one of which contains a pen box, a sand box and an ink cup. The top is upholstered in green leather. Louis XV style H. 80 cm - W. 44 cm - D. 90 cm LOT IN TEMPORARY IMPORT, sold under the general regime, the VAT of 5.5% in addition is calculated on the expenses HT and on the auction. It was said of Martin Varnishes at the time: "The famous Martin has more than once deceived the most skilful connoisseurs in this respect; his masterpieces are still sought after with the same eagerness as the old lacquers" Jean-Félix Watin, 1772. Only four blue-ground sloping desks, decorated in imitation of Japanese lacquer, have been recorded to date: - A varnish sloping desk attributed to the Frères Martin went on sale at Christie's in London on July 9, 2015. London. It was given by Pierre IV Migeon (Fig. 1). - An example by Migeon, adorned with similar gilding simulating ormolu gutters at the top of the legs, previously belonged to the collection of René Weiller's collection. It was sold at Christie's in London on April 17, 1980 (lot 188) and has recently appeared on the Paris art market, having been unglazed as the varnish had turned green (S. Mouquin, Pierre IV Migeon, Paris, 2001, p. 95, fig. 39). - A copy of BVRB, with a pale blue ground, once belonging to the Steinitz gallery in Paris and now in a private collection (reproduced in T. Wolvesperges, Le Meuble Français en Laque au XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1999, p. 117, fig. 69). - An example attributed to Adrien Faizelot Delorme, delivered around 1750-1751 to Madame de Pompadour for the Château de Bellevue. This piece is now in the Musée des Arts décoratifs de Paris, donated by David and Flora David-Weill, 1937. Inv. 32636 (Fig. 2).