Restoration of a Transition-style two-door commode, inlaid with bottomless cube marquetry. Its frame combines oak for the uprights and rails, softwood for the side panels, and walnut for the two doors. The bottomless cubes themselves blend rosewood, violet wood, and tobacco-stained maple. A green-stained maple and boxwood border frames the entire piece. Furthermore, the uprights and door frames are veneered with violet wood and rosewood. The sides thus feature a rosewood background in a fern pattern, framed with amaranth. Finally, bronze triglyph mounts adorn the uprights, terminating in claw feet, while ribbons and garlands decorate the keyhole escutcheons.
Claude-Charles SAUNIER (Paris, 1735 – Paris, 1807)
An emblematic master cabinetmaker of the reign of Louis XVI, he came from a family established on the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, opposite the rue Saint-Nicolas. This family had been crafting furniture since the early 18th century. Saunier managed his father's (Jean-Charles') workshop from 1757, after the departure of his two brothers, Jean-Baptiste and Mathieu-Charles. He obtained his master's certificate on July 31, 1752. However, he did not officially register his business until 1765, when he took over the management of the workshop.
Shortly afterwards, he married Antoinette Pierre Chevallier, a distant cousin, and in turn set up his own studio on rue des Balls and Cannonballs. Furthermore, around 1760, he joined Freemasonry. It helped him on several occasions to manage his debts. It also helped him open a new cabinetmaking shop, "L'étoile d'Or" (The Golden Star), at 42 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine. Finally, Claude-Charles Saunier died on August 16, 1807, shortly after his second marriage to Anne François Venet.
His style reflects the gradually prevailing taste for simplicity, far removed from Rococo extravagance. Influenced by Oeben and the Chevallier family, he developed furniture in a classical vein. Balanced proportions and the highlighting of veneers characterize his work. His clientele included several prominent figures from the reign of Louis XVI, such as the Duke of Harcourt, Lieutenant General of the King's armies, and the Count of Narbonne, Minister of War. However, his production remained primarily in the semi-luxury segment. His two specialties, the console table and the roll-top desk, were exported abroad through major merchants like Daguerre.
Bibliography
- FONTANA, Clotilde, «Claude-Charles Saunier, a cabinetmaker of the Age of Enlightenment», The Stamp / The Art Object, no. 373, 2002, pp. 70-82,
The Restoration
We carried out a complete restoration, including re-gluing the joints and regenerating the adhesives on the veneered surfaces. This step is essential for bottomless cubes, whose adhesives often dry out significantly. Next, we created some repairs using veneer that was sawn, scraped, sanded, and cut to the correct thickness, then glued in place with hot glue. This allowed the piece to retain its integrity and patina. We then lightened the old finish with a pad before applying a clear varnish. Finally, we cleaned the bronze mounts with a steam jet.
After restoration
