Elements of Jacques Doucet's "Oriental Cabinet" at the MFA Boston

Hello at long last dear readers.  I seem to be stuck on the subject of Jacques Doucet's collection within his studio at Neuilley-sur-Siene, but pieces from this famed interior seem to be finding themselves in the path of my various research projects.  The other day, I was searching on the greatly updated website for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. When I concluded I opted to search "Jacques Doucet" on a lark....I am very glad I took the time.  You see, mixed within the holdings of his various fashion designs were these two lovelies that I never seen reproduced in the modern literature regarding Doucet.

Jacques Lipchitz, Carved limestone mantelpiece, ca. 1928     Image: MFA Boston

Jacques Lipchitz, Gilt bronze and iron chenets, ca. 1928    Image: MFA Boston

You see, these anthropomorphic sculptural gems were a focal point within Jacques Doucet's "Oriental Cabinet".

View of Jacques Doucet's "Oriental Cabinet" with the chenets seen just beyond Eileen Gray's "Lotus Table"  Image: L'Illustration, 30 Mai 1930

Detail of above

I never knew, until I saw them glittering on my screen, that the cubist mantelpiece and chenets had survived as they were not featured in Doucet's 1972 sale.  According to the MFA's website the works were acquired by the museum from the Parisian gallery Brame et Laurenceau in 1986.  According to Brame et Laurenceau the works were inherited by Doucet's widow, Jeanne Roger Doucet and eventually made their way into a private collection from whence the gallery acquired them.  They are presently not on view.

On a side note, it appears that another pair of chenets from Doucet's studio surfaced at the Art Deco exhibition at the Musee des Arts Decortifs Bordeaux.  This time they were sculpted by Hungarian avant garde sculptor Gustave Miklos in 1925, cast in bronze, gilded and detailed with enamel.

Gustave Miklos, one of two chenets       Image: © Mairie de Bordeaux, photo Lysiane Gauthier

These chenets were loaned to the exhibition from a private collection and I have reached out to the Museum to confirm the Doucet provenance.  Due to some of the surface wear I believe that they are indeed lot 16 from the Doucet Collection sale in 1972.

Gustave Miklos enameled and gilt bronze chenets, Collection Jacques Doucet, Hotel Drouot, 8 November 1972 lot 16 ($8500)

I await to hear the museum's input.  Until next time--AR.