A French late 19th century gilt bronze mounted kingwood, tulipwood and mahogany semainier en vitrine by Marcel Boulanger


With seven gilt-tooled leather veneered drawers flanked by two convex glazed panelled doors, enclosing four shelves, above one long drawer and two hinged end drawers, over a pair of doors disguised as a tambour slide, flanked by two quarter veneered panelled doors, with a brass plaque signed: 'Marcel Boulanger, 11, Rue Basfroi, 128cm wide x 37cm deep x 203cm high, (50in wide x 14 1/2in deep x 79 1/2in high)
|During 1905 to 1906 a Marcel Boulanger is documented as overseeing the decoration in the Louis XIV style of the Lounge at the Ritz Hotel, in London. The same Boulanger is recorded as having assisted in the renovation of Claridge's between 1909-10, since the latter hotel wanted to rival the immense success of the Ritz at that time.This is very likely the same Marcel Boulanger who either retailed or perhaps originally purchased the present lot as he was also noted for collecting and purchasing French furniture on behalf of his wealthy and often illustrious clients. Indeed included among Boulanger's celebrated clientele were Jacques Seligmann, the highly revered antiquarian and renowned art dealer, and Robert Fleming. And although Marcel Boulanger apparently worked a great deal in London, his offices were permanently located in Paris, https://en.wikipedia.org