Mahogany chest of drawers and organ... - Lot 280 - Coutau-Bégarie Mahogany and mahogany veneer desk and organ. The upper part presents a clock signed by J_S_Bourdier. It opens with two mirrored leaves, a drawer with a flap forming a writing desk and a side door with a mechanical roller organ signed J.S. Bourdier, clockmaker in Paris. The detached column uprights rest on a wide plinth base. Chased and gilded bronze ornamentation such as foliage friezes, capitals and column bases, palmette or foliate escutcheons and a crown with double knotted horns of plenty flanked by a lyre. Early 19th century Height 199 cm - Width: 94 cm - Depth: 40.5 cm (as is) Provenance Ader-Tajan, Paris, Drouot, Sale of 20 March 1992, lot 159. Jean-Simon Bourdier (1760-1839) was a Parisian clockmaker-mechanic. Mechanic in Paris. He became a master watchmaker in Paris on 22 September 1787 and established himself on the Quai de l'Horloge until around 1806, when he moved to the Rue Mazarine. Bourdier became known for the perfection of his movements, which were housed in the finest and most elaborate cases, capable of furnishing a number of royal palaces. In the early 19th century, he worked with the watchmaker Godon, the draughtsman Dugourc and the sculptor Pierre Julien, producing several remarkable pieces for the Spanish king Charles IV. At the same time, he worked with the most influential merchants of the time, in particular Daguerre and Julliot, carefully selecting the craftsmen who worked with him to produce fine clocks. Among them were the cabinet-makers Lieutaud and Riesener, as well as bronzemakers Galle, Thomire and Rémond, cabinetmaker Schwerdfeger and enamellers Dubuisson and Cotea.