André-Charles Boulle

André-Charles Boulle (1642–1732) was an incredibly talented furniture-maker, gilder and sculptor to Louis XIV of France (1638–1715). He was renowned for his opulent baroque furniture designs his technique to inlay furniture with intricate opposing marquetry (partie and contra partie) designs, made from wood, tortoiseshell, brass and pewter. This technique became known as Boulle or Buhl work, and was highly sought after during Boulle’s lifetime.

Boulle’s work was so popular that it was heavily adopted during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This resulted in exact copies of seventeenth-century furniture being produced, as well as adaptations of the Boulle technique to suit contemporary designs.

André-Charles Boulle was a master of his craft, and his legacy lives on in the furniture designs of today. His intricate marquetry inlays and use of materials created timeless pieces of furniture that are still admired centuries later. Boulle’s work is a testament to his skill and creativity and a reminder of the beauty of furniture design.

Several original pieces by Boulle furniture are housed in the Wallace Collection, London