Excited to learn that miniaturist David Iriarte will unveil new work at the upcoming Tom Bishop International Show which begins on Friday, April 29 at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare and ends on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
The following describes his new work, in his words, adapted from a post on Mr. Iriarte's Instagram account along with photographs used with his permission.
His latest work is a replication of a King Louis XIV Bureau Mazarin in 1/12 scale which originated in the middle of the 17th century, named in memory of Cardinal Mazarin, Louis XIV's minister and successor to Richelieu. The original can be found at The Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.
This piece generally had rich decoration and were supported by eight legs joined together with criss-crosses in an "X" or "H" formation and is a much smaller bureau plat in size, typical of the Louis XIV-XV period, versus some which were found to be made in later.
The leg space allowed for just for one knee which forced the other leg to be left out and therefore, people had to sit slightly to the side. This was because at that time nobility always carried a sword, which could not fit under the desk and needed to be accessible. Desks made prior to this design were based on a table covered with a rich tapestry and a desk on top.
The Mazarin bureau was designed as a display piece more than for actual use. It was was made for Maximilian Emanuel, elector of Bavaria, who developed a taste for French furniture when he was exiled in Paris in the 1700s. The author of the original is unknown but attributed to Andre Charles Boulle. It was Mazarin's secretary, who recommended him to Louis XIV, as the most skillful craftsman, becoming the most famous French ebanist of marquette.
Over the centuries, his name has been associated with the art he perfected which includes the inlay of carey and brass in the ebony which is known as the Boulee technique - which created a high degree of difficulty to recreate in scale. I started it in 2002 and was interrupted by other jobs, I dare not say the number of months working on it, with ornaments in silver, marquette in brass veneers, with inlay in mother of pearl colors (blue and green) ebony and carey acetate.
The shield of arms can be seen on the countertop, and a variety of small objects including figures, birds, cupids and flower vases. The drawers are lined with red velvet.
The piece will make its debut at the Tom Bishop Chicago International Show on Friday, April 29, 2022.
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