Offered by Antiquités Thierry Martin
Furniture Port, crystal chandeliers
A very fine commode in sarcophagus form with a “pont” design, veneered in kingwood (bois de violette). The slightly bombe front opens with three drawers arranged in three tiers, separated by wide brass fluting. The sides are decorated with geometric marquetry. It is topped with a Belgian “Rance” marble, moulded with a period bec-de-corbin edge, and stands on four cabriole legs.
It features an exceptional set of original finely chased gilt bronze mounts, with well-preserved gilding, including corner mounts with plumed female masks, escutcheons, drop handles with rosettes, moustache-shaped mounts with cornucopia motifs, an apron decorated with acanthus leaves, and scrolled foot sabots enveloping the feet.
A work by a great Parisian master cabinetmaker of the Régence period.
Conservation and maintenance restorations have been carried out by an experienced cabinetmaker, with a traditional French polish (vernis au tampon); the bronzes have not been re-gilded.
In accordance with the practices of the great Parisian cabinetmakers of the early 18th century, the carcass and back are in oak, the side panels, intermediate shelves, and drawer fronts are in pine, while the drawer sides and bottoms are in walnut. The drawers are constructed with sides set into grooves and fitted into the rear rail, allowing them to slide flat over the intermediate shelves.
Sarcophagus commodes are rare, produced over a relatively short period spanning the end of the reign of Louis XIV and the Régence, and most are unstamped.
