Here is the latest restoration by Raphaël, my apprentice. Although it possesses all the attributes of a Regency commode, it could only have been made much later, after that historical period (around 1715-1723). Indeed, since Hédouin obtained his master's certificate in 1738, during the height of the Louis XV era, it is more accurately described as a commode "in the Regency style" by cabinetmakers of the time.
This chest of drawers is entirely constructed of oak, except for the back panels, and is veneered with amaranth and satinwood.
Jean-Baptiste HEDOUIN
Little is known about the life of Jean-Baptiste Hedouin; only the date of his death (January 1783) is recorded. After being admitted to the guild on May 22, 1738, he set up his workshop on Rue Traversière-Saint-Antoine. All the furniture he produced was of fine quality. His furniture, primarily in the style of Regency and Louis The pieces produced by Jean-Baptiste Hedouin in the 15th century, almost all veneered in sheets or grid patterns, were varied: wardrobes, flat and slant-front desks, bookcases… but it was the commodes that constituted the largest part of his output. The majority of these adopted the rounded and heavy forms of the Regency style. Others featured lighter, more curved lines, the uprights and apron highlighted by gilt bronze mounts. Two works, quite different from his usual style, deserve mention: a pair of stepped corner cabinets in Chinese lacquer and polychrome European varnish, with rocaille bronze frames.
Having found his stamp on some furniture alongside that of his colleague Migeon, it is assumed that Hedouin also worked for merchants.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- French Furniture of the 18th Century – Pierre Kjellberg – Les Editions de l'Amateur – 2002
- Cabinetmakers of the 18th Century – Count François de Salverte – Art and History Publishers – 1934
Cstate report
This chest of drawers was in fairly good condition. The specifications therefore stipulated restoring the missing veneer, repairing the old unsightly grafts, rehydrating the veneered surfaces, and overhauling the drawer sliding mechanism.
The Restoration
Since the structure was in good condition, dismantling it was absolutely out of the question. I would also like to reiterate that dismantling a piece of furniture is never a routine procedure and that this step must be justified when absolutely necessary, as it significantly compromises the preservation of the original glues and joinery.
That's why we opted for vacuum-sealing the sides with a membrane applied directly to them. This process allows for highly effective regeneration of the adhesives.
The missing veneers and the old grafts in the wrong grain of the wood were restored by sawn veneer, scraped, sanded and put to the correct thickness on the backing before gluing with hot glue.
The old French polish was thinned and regenerated with a polar solvent, then reworked before applying a new colorless shellac finish. The veneer grafts were previously oxidized.
