EFTA00711198.pdf

From: Richard Kahn c > To: Jeffrey Epstein Subject: FW: Louis XIV bureau plat Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 23:40:32 +0000 Should I bring Christies in to provide another valuation? Please advise From: "Clarke, Alistair" •,: > Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 22:48:08 +0000 To: Richard Kahn Cc: "Clarke, Alistair" Subject: Louis XIV bureau plat The design for this bureau derives from a drawing circa 1710 in the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris attributed to Andre — Charles Boulle. A number of other bureau plats of this model , all inlaid in boulle marquetry of brass and tortoiseshell , are known and are attributed to Andre — Charles Boulle. We examined the bureau plat in detail and it is our opinion that the bureau is early 18th century but may originally have been inlaid in boulle marquetry and have been therefore later inlaid in ebony —this is frequently the case with bureaux whose marquetry has fallen into disrepair and a restoration was judged too expensive or the owner 's taste favored a plainer look. An examination of the ormolu mounts indicates that they most probably do not date from the 18th century — this is based on their casting , chasing and the construction techniques used. Gilding itself is never a determining factor as ormolu mounts are often regilt — that said , the gilding does not appear to date from the 18th century. The bureau has a distinguished provenance, having belonged to the collector Georges Hoentschel, whose collection was sold en bloc to J.P. Morgan and given to the Metropolitan Museum ( who deaccesioned it in 1986). It was sold Sotheby's, New York , 3 May 1986, lot 158 for $ 320,000 against an estimate of $ 40 — 60,000. It was not attributed to Boulle at the time and was obviously the subject of much speculation , hence the price achieved being a multiple of the pre sale estimate. Since then , scholarly opinion has progressed and much work has been done on Boulle and his workshop as well as those of his sons as well as his imitators — it is a very complicated field particularly because such furniture underwent several revivals and perfectly genuine pieces have not always survived the ravages of time unscathed. It is very unlikely that this bureau plat , if offered at auction today, would generate the same level of bidding interest for the reasons I set out above. I would have thought that a suitable auction estimate would be in the region of $ 150 — 250 ,000. With best regards, Alistair Clarke. ••••*•0111,1**0111,1••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the postmaster at postmasterAsothebys.com. www.sothebys.com ...... ..... .01.•• • II.** • •• • •• ...... ..... !PIP ..... ..... ....... EFTA00711198