Empire Chest of Drawers with Quivers

This week, here are some photos of the restoration of this Empire-style chest of drawers veneered in mahogany burl. This chest is truly unique due to the quality and originality of its bronze mounts. Indeed, they form quivers along with the side columns. The keyhole escutcheons are composed of two crossed laurel branches held together by a ribbon. Originally, they were mercury-gilded, as can be seen from the gilding stains on the back. Unfortunately, only a few partial traces remain on the visible surface.

The originality of this chest of drawers and its bronzes is all the more striking as I have a secretary desk made of the same bronzes and the same veneer that I will be restoring soon.

After some unsuccessful research into a possible attribution to a cabinetmaker, I found other pieces of furniture featuring the same bronze quivers: a chest of drawers and a console table. Was this furniture set part of a special commission to furnish a household? Or is it simply the signature of the cabinetmaker who crafted them? The mystery remains.

On the restoration side: some veneer is missing, the joints are detached, the sides are cracked and the varnish is stained and dirty.

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The joints were re-glued using fish glue injection to restore rigidity, and the top and bottom back panels were re-ground with oak. The sides were reinforced with backing, and the cracks were filled with resin. A few pieces of the foot molding were missing. These were made from an old piece of Cuban mahogany. "Mark EMV 2020 on the backing." The largest veneer grafts were made with sawn burr mahogany veneer. For smaller gaps, they were simply filled to avoid removing unnecessary material. The old varnish was removed with pumice and alcohol. The grafts were oxidized, and the crack fillings were touched up with watercolor. Finally, I applied a dabbing of clear varnish to even out the finish. The bronzes were dewaxed and cleaned in hot water and Panama wood, and the grey Saint Anne marble was cleaned and rewaxed with a pad.

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To see previous restorations : https://ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr/en-ce-moment-a-latelier/