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Thomas Hache (French, 1664 1747)
Exceptional blue and ivory …
See original version (French)
320
-
Thomas Hache (French, 1664 1747)
Exceptional blue and ivory …
See original version (French)
Estimate €80,000 - €120,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Thomas Hache (French, 1664 1747)
Exceptional blue and ivory scagliola wedding cabinet, c. 1690-1695
Richly inlaid on the front and sides with foliate scrolls and flowers, hawthorn branches, ribbons, count's crowns and monograms in ivory, ornaments in blue scagliola, cartouches, flowers and foliage in natural and stained colours, garlands of flowers, birds, Medici vases, draperies, friezes of acanthus leaves and foliage, on stained walnut backgrounds and burl walnut and beautiful veined walnut backgrounds. Resting on five blackened wood ball feet.
Chambéry, circa 1690-1695.
Height 212 Width 153 Depth 65 cm.
Very good condition, with the back, inner casing, hinges, escutcheons and locks attached.
Provenance: private collection, Lyon.
Exceptional ivory and blue scagliola wedding armoire by Thomas Hache, circa 1690-1695.
Bibliography:
- Pierre and Françoise Rouge, "Le génie des Hache", Dijon, Editions Faton 2005, see the typology of armoires, pp. 72-97.
- This model will be reproduced and described in the forthcoming second volume.
CITES - Object composed of ivory of elephantidae spp.
In accordance with the provisions of the regulations in force in the European Union (Regulation (EU) n° 2021/2280 of 16/12/21), the object will be delivered to the purchaser with its Intra-Community Certificate n° FR2606900209-K dated 02/04/2026.
If the item is to be exported from Europe, a re-export certificate will be required, at the buyer's expense. The purchaser must also find out in advance about the legislation in force in the country of destination.
AN ORIGINAL DÉCOR WITH REFINED NATURALISM
This cabinet is distinguished from other known models by the use of ivory on the pearls of the count's crown and on the monograms, as Thomas Hache usually favoured the use of bone in his "jasmine" flower decorations. If the crown is that of a count, the monograms are "de fantaisie", as is most often the case. The presence of ivory indicates that the commissioner wanted a more noble material than bone. To date, only three coats of arms have identifiable coats of arms.
The crowns and monograms are surrounded by two hawthorn branches, recognisable by their well-cut green leaves and red berries, while the medallions in the middle feature two finely engraved parrots, in place of the Renommées usually found. The floral decoration is highly naturalistic, with the unusual presence of a branch of lily and a sunflower, rarely seen, amidst tulips, peonies, carnations, daffodils and ipomoea in blue scagliola.
On the front, each door is surrounded by a remarkable frieze of acanthus leaves and florets, and a frieze on the cornice that differs from other known models by its central motif composed of a boldly asymmetrical bouquet, while the cartouches on either side are unusual in their composition of foliage scrolls in natural and stained colours; on the sides, they are repeated in counterpart, using the technique invented by Pierre Gole (c. 1620-1685), the King's cabinetmaker, then developed by André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732).
The sides themselves also differ from the known models in the original shape of the three medallions, including the top one decorated with draperies and ribbons echoing those in the lower front reserves and elegantly topped with carnations, daffodils, acanthus flowers and skilfully arranged foliage scrolls.
After a spell in Pierre Gole's workshop in Paris, Thomas Hache began working in Chambéry, the administrative capital of the Duchy of Savoy, in 1685, where he used the decorative principle of scagliola, invented in Italy in the mid-seventeenth century to imitate the very expensive marquetry of hard stones.
From 1695 onwards, he developed a prosperous and original workshop in Grenoble, using almost exclusively Alpine woods and their beautiful stained burls with remarkable graphic effects, and inventing shapes and assembly techniques that were unheard of in Parisian cabinetmaking. This exceptional expertise was rewarded in 1721 with the Brevet d'Ebéniste awarded by the Duke of Orléans, Governor of the Province of Dauphiné and Prince of the Blood.
Françoise Rouge
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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