Mathieu Befort (1813-1880) aka Befort Jeune – ‘Young Befort”, was a renowned Parisian cabinet maker, son of Jean-Baptiste Befort (died 1840), who established his Paris workshops in 1817 in the Faubourg Saint Honoré. The firm received a medal at the 1844 Exposition Des Produits de L’industrie Francaise. Later Befort Jeune was recorded working at Rue Neuve-Saint-Gilles between 1844-1880. The high quality of his work allowed him to become purveyor to Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. Befort was very successful in creating pieces in the manner of Boulle and Renaissance.