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The chest is veneered on oak with Boulle marquetry of engraved brass on tortoise-shell over red pigment.
André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes), gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing tortoise-shell and brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs. Boulle marquetry dropped out of favor in the 1720s, but was revived in the 1780s.
The design imitates an antique sarcophagus.
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