Who is the Baroque craftsman recognized as the first great ébéniste who used ebony?

• A. Andre Charles Boulle
• B. Jean-Henri Riesener
• C. Thomas Chippendale
• D. David Roentske

Answer: (A)

Andre-Charles Boulle is the figure tied to the first great ébéniste who used ebony in a defining Baroque style. He pioneered boulle marquetry, blending dark ebony with tortoiseshell and brass to create intricate, high-contrast inlays that became the signature of luxury cabinetmaking under Louis XIV. This approach established a standard for opulent woodwork across Europe, so his name became synonymous with this ebony-inlaid technique. The other makers arrived later or worked in different traditions: Riesener is a prominent 18th‑century French ébéniste but not the originator of ebony marquetry; Chippendale represents English 18th‑century design; Roentgen’s fame lies in mechanical furniture rather than pioneering ebony inlay.