The Beurdeley family were one of the most important dynasty of Parisian cabinet makers in the second half of the nineteenth century. The firm was founded by Jean Beurdeley in Paris by 1804, who built up a modest business and reputation, the fruits of which were later to be reaped by his son and grandson.
His son, Louis-Auguste-Alfred Beurdeley took over the business in the 1850s, and under his management, expanded it greatly. He specialised in the manufacture of furniture inspired by the eighteenth century, and particularly Louis XVI, and soon became the most famous cabinetmaker of Paris. His clients included The Duke of Nemours, Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie.
Emmanuel Alfred Louis Beurdeley (1847-1919) was the third generation to enter the business, and he worked at first with his father, Louis, and eventually succeeded him in 1875. The business continued in its traditional style with very few variations, until in 1895 the business was closed. The stock was sold by auction, taking five sales to dispose of more than two thousand pieces.
Louis-Auguste-Alfred Beurdeley exhibited at the Universal Exhibition in 1855 in Paris and in the Great Exhibition 1867 in Paris, where he was awarded a Gold medal for his exhibits, which included the cabinet, a Louis XVI style lacquer and mother of pearl side table, a large bookcase with pietra dure decoration and a number of gilt bronze and hardstone items.
The cabinet to be offered by Bonhams in Sydney (Lot 308 ) is illustrated in the catalogue that Louis-Auguste-Alfred Beurdeley created for the 1867 Great Exhibition, which is illustrated in <i>L'ameublement d'art Français: 1850-1900 </i> by Camille Mestdagh and Pierre Lecoules, the former of whom works for Bonhams in London, as a specialist in 19th century Parisian furniture.
In July 2011 in their London salerooms, Bonhams offered 24 items of Beurdeley furniture (lots 161 to 185), of which 14 sold, mostly made by the third generation Emmanuel Alfred Louis Beurdeley circa 1880 to 1890 and consigned by descendants of the family.
Notable sale prices included an ormolu-mounted maple, amaranth and espenille marquetry, specimen marble and pietre dure inlaid secrétaire à abattant for £96,000 inc. BP; and an ormolu-mounted ebony and ebonised Japanese lacquer bureau plat which sold for £84,000 inc. BP. As a comparison, the estimate on the cabinet to be offered by Bonham's in Sydney is $50,000 - $80,000.
The cabinet has been consigned to Bonhams by a West Australian collector, whose father purchased the cabinet in 1982 from antiques dealer Robert Morrison, in Queen Street, Woollahra, who closed down his business in September 1991, and is now deceased.