Louis XV commode stamped JC Ellaume

Restoration of a Louis XV period commode stamped JC Ellaume. This commode is veneered in rosewood and palisander with floral marquetry on the drawer fronts. The frame is made of oak and softwood.

Jean-Charles Ellaume, also sometimes spelled Allaume, received his master craftsman's certificate in Paris on November 6, 1754. Many pieces of furniture bearing his stamp are known. These are mostly Louis XV commodes. In his workshop on Rue Traversière, he produced numerous high-quality pieces for over thirty years, primarily commodes and flat desks, mainly in the Louis XV style, but also in the Transition and Louis XVI styles. Many examples include tomb-shaped commodes with exposed stretchers, small two-drawer commodes, and Louis XV desks, all veneered in rosewood or violet wood framed in palisander or amaranth. The bronze mounts are elegant and finely chased. There are also several pieces adorned with marquetry of flowering branches and stained wood musical instruments, all within scrolling borders. Ellaume was considered an excellent cabinetmaker in his time.

It's easy to see that a lot of work was involved. The two sides were held together only by the veneer, the fir panels having completely separated. Furthermore, the left side had been re-veneered with walnut, disregarding the grain and the original marquetry. Much of the glue had dried out, and there were many gaps in the veneer.

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The restoration therefore consisted of completely disassembling the piece of furniture to reattach the sides, reaming them to compensate for the wood shrinkage. The walnut from the previous restoration was removed and replaced with rosewood veneer, which was sawn, scraped, and sanded before gluing to avoid disturbing the original veneer. The veneers on the sides were applied using a vacuum system and hot glue to replicate the original gluing technique. The entire chest of drawers was then reassembled with fish glue.

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After stripping, the chest of drawers was filled with pumice. Oxidation techniques were applied to the new veneer grafts. Between two coats of French polish, the piece was buffed with olive oil. Finally, the bronze mounts were cleaned with Panama wood and then reinstalled in their original positions.

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