RUFFIER (Cyrille Ruffier des Aimés) (1844-1916) Rectangular middle table with Japanese decoration in mahogany and ornamental bronzes and a marble top, resting on a base with claw feet joined by an openwork brace. 76 x 47.5 x 65 cm Minor dents and restoration to the marble Note: Cyrille Ruffier des Aimés was born on 29 January 1844 in Savoie and died there on 13 April 1916. A talented cabinetmaker, he opened his own cabinetmaking workshop in Paris near the Faubourg Saint Antoine. In 1887, he equipped his workshop with a steam engine, a rarity in cabinetmaking at the time. He worked with various types of wood, with a particular preference for mahogany. He exhibited and won several awards at exhibitions organised by the Union Centrale des Arts Décoratifs. These pieces of furniture, far from all being stamped, are often mistaken for creations by Gabriel Viardot, so it is more than likely that some of the works conserved in prestigious institutions and attributed to Gabriel Viardot actually came from his workshops.