A pair of Louis XV style gilt-bronze mounted sarrancolin marble vases, by Mathieu Béfort dit Béfort Jeune, mid 19th century

The present pair of vases illustrate the taste in the 18^th century to mount colourful stones, here boldly carved with curving grooves, with rich chased gilt-bronze mounts. The celebrated French maker Mathieu Béfort caters to this fascination which endured throughout the 19^th century amongst craftsmen and collectors alike and Béfort further showcases the quality and high standards of craftsmanship he reached in the second half of 19^th century.

Mathieu Béfort (1813-1880), also known as Béfort Jeune, comes from a renowned dynasty of cabinet makers and bronziers beginning as early as 1817. As a gifted ébéniste-marqueteur, he specialized in Boulle-style marquetry, in particular on high quality works inspired by the work of André-Charles-Boulle himself. He lived at 1 and 6 rue Neuve-Saint-Gilles in Paris from 1844 to 1880. Mathieu was the son of Jean-Baptiste Béfort (1783-1840), who was of Belgian origin and renowned for having supplied furniture for the apartments of the Duc d'Orléans. Following his older brother Bernard Béfort, Mathieu took over the family business until 1878, when Joseph Emmanuel Zwiener reputedly succeeds him.

Mounted marble vases are not immediately associated with Béfort’s oeuvre, however the present lot is clearly a testament to the master's ability to render high-end craftsmanship and his ability to cater to the luxury market with a variety of objects. A pair of Louis XV style mounted sarrancolin urns by Béfort were offered at Replica Shoes ’s New York, 29 October 2014, lot 24.