A pair of French gilt-bronze and pietre dure-mounted brass inlaid ebony cabinets by Befort Jeune the pietre dure, Florentine, mid 19th century, the cabinets, Napoleon III, circa 1870

each with a rectangular black marble top with canted corners above a frieze mounted with guilloche and a door with a tasselled laurel wreath enclosing a ribbon-tied bouquet with a bird on a branch with fruits and flowers opening to reveal a shelf, the sides with a wicker basket of flowers with a patera at each corner, the canted stiles with a scrolled corbel, acanthus and berried laurel leaves, on bracket feet, both signed Befort Jeune

In overall good conserved condition. Some old very minor marks and scratches which are hardly noticeable.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Anna Maria Massinelli, The Gilbert Collection, Hardstones, London, 2000, pp. 66-67, no. 16, for a related cabinet, one of a pair with pietre dure panels although unsigned (MM 1 16 AB).
Denise-Ledoux Lebard, Le Mobilier Français du XIXe siècle, Paris, 1989, p. 49.

This fine pair of cabinets incorporates 19th century pietre dure Florentine panels executed in the 17th century manner when furniture in the Louis XVI style was very much in vogue largely due to Empress Eugenie's enthusiasm for objects and furniture connected to Marie-Antoinette. A related pair of cabinets is illustrated by Ledoux-Lebard, op. cit., p. 49, stamped by the same maker, sold Sotheby's, Monaco, 12th December 1982, lot 369.

Mathieu Béfort 1813-1880, also known as Béfort Jeune, was a descendant of a renowned dynasty of cabinet-makers and bronziers which began as early as 1817. He lived at 1 and 6 rue Neuve-Saint-Gilles in Paris from 1844 to 1880.  Mathieu was the son of Jean-Baptiste Béfort (1783-1840), who was of Belgian origin and renowned for having supplied furniture for the apartments of the Duc d'Orléans. His older brother, Bernard Béfort, was active between 1836 and 1858. Mathieu then took over the business until 1878. As a gifted ébèniste-marqueteur, he specialized in Boulle-style marquetry, in particular on high quality works inspired by the work of André-Charles-Boulle himself.

A hardstones mounted ebony cabinet attributed to Befort Jeune of similar conception, was sold Christie's, Paris, 17th November 2011, lot 345 (34, 600E).