André-Charles Boulle (1642-1732) was a prolific cabinetmaker, who produced furniture over a number of decades. His workshop was large and highly active, as suggested by the accounts of the French royal household and the inventories made of his workshop. Despite this, identifying furniture by Boulle can be challenging, as he did not stamp his work, and later copies and pastiches are prevalent. Attributions to Boulle are often made using a combination of archival research and analysis of the forms, marquetry and mounts of individual works.

The Wallace Collection is extraordinarily fortunate to contain one of the largest groups of Boulle furniture anywhere in the world. They include an impressive variety of models, from barometers and clocks to medal cabinets and tables. Some of Boulle’s greatest innovations are also among their number, including a writing desk and a chest of drawers. One piece in particular, a monumental wardrobe, is one of very few that can be attributed to Boulle with certainty, as it was recorded in his workshop, along with its pair, in 1715.

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