A Brazilian rosewood and brass-inlaid cartography cabinet, France, mid 19th century, by maison Alphonse Giroux

inscribed Atlas Géographique, opening with eight drawers fitted with the following maps by A. Brué and Ch. Picquet : Mappemonde, Europe, Asie, Afrique, Amérique S, Amérique M, Russie, Allemagne, France, Espagne, Turquie, Italie, I. Britanniques, Autriche, P^ons Maritimes, Monarques F^çais ; avec une plaque en laiton Alph. Giroux & Cie/ 43 Boulevard des Capucines 43 / Papeterie et Couleurs / Françaises et Anglaises / Encadrements / Vente & Location de Mannequins / Tableaux & Dessins

Founded in 1799, the Alphonse Giroux company presented a wide variety of objects, ranging from marquetry wares to paintings, but also sold art supplies and published engravings, maps, and planispheres. Established at Boulevard des Capucines since 1855, it was taken over by Ferdinand Duvinage at the end of the Second French Empire.

Charles Picquet (1771-1827), a geographer in the service of Napoleon I, then for King Louis XVIII and Charles X, completed the l'Atlas Universel (Universal Atlas) by Adrien Brué (1786-1832) and had a shop at Quai de Conti, where he succeeded J. Barthelemier.

A similar cabinet of slightly smaller dimensions, produced by Susse Frères, was part of the collections of the Duchy of Parma and was featured in the exhibition, Curiosità di una Reggia. Victoire della Guardaroba in Palazzo Pitti, which was held in Florence in 1979 (consult exhibition catalogue, n ° 24, pp. 164-165).

Please note that the chronology of the French monarchs printed on the last map from this cabinet, stops due to the advent of the Second Republic.