Boiserie from the Hôtel de Cabris, Grasse

Commissioned for the new residence of Jean-Paul de Clapiers, marquis de Cabris, in Grasse, this paneling made in Paris is a pure expression of the Neoclassical style. Originally the room had five sets of double doors and an equal number of mirrors, achieving a beautiful harmony by the alternation of the carved and gilded panels with the reflective glass surfaces. The rounded corners display trophies of musical instruments suspended from bow-tied ribbons. Smoking incense burners on tripod stands, a motif derived from classical antiquity, embellish the upper door panels. The combination of dulled and burnished gilding creates a particularly lively effect.