amarante Archives • Ébénisterie Mathieu Vath

Louis XVI secretary stamped Schlichtig

July 1, 2026October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, secretary, Louis XVI style, French polish, 18th century

This Louis XVI style secretary desk bears the stamp of JG Schlichtig. It combines rosewood, satinwood (on the sides), and amaranth veneers on an oak and softwood frame. It opens with two lower doors, a central drop-front, and a top drawer. The interior includes six drawers and three niches. At 1.20 meters long, it is a lady's secretary desk. Jean-Georges Schlichtig († February 1782) was a Parisian cabinetmaker of German origin, admitted as a master on October 2, 1765. He initially established himself […]

Transition secretary desk in the style of Montigny

June 4, 2026October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, furniture restoration, secretary, Transitional style, 19th century

Restoration of a 19th-century Transition-style drop-front secretary, veneered in rosewood and amaranth on an oak frame. This secretary is a learned interpretation of Parisian models from 1765-1775. It is directly inspired by the famous secretary attributed to the cabinetmaker Philippe-Claude Montigny, now in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The similarity to the museum model is striking: it is evident in the architectural design of the piece, in the treatment of the stepped legs, and in the use of bronze ornamentation inspired by the Greek style. […]

Louis XVI chest of drawers by Jean-Francois Leleu

October 15, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XVI period commode with a central projection, stamped JF LELEU. Entirely constructed of oak, it is veneered with amaranth, rosewood, boxwood, stained maple burl, and tobacco-grey maple. A frieze of posts adorns the top drawer. On the projection, Greek key patterns and fleurons are set within a mosaic of hexagons, known as "marquetry à la reine." It has three drawers, two of which conceal drawers with crossbars. Furthermore, its front uprights have canted corners and simulated fluting. Finally, its feet are made of […]

Flat Greek-style desk stamped DUBOIS

March 27, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, violet wood, Bronzes, Desk, polite, furniture restoration, satin, Louis XVI style, Transitional style, 18th century

One desk, one stamp, three cabinetmakers? This desk is a masterpiece of French cabinetmaking. It alone embodies the culmination of 18th-century Neoclassical taste. Yet, a question immediately arises: why three cabinetmakers for a single desk? In fact, the answer lies in a mixture of succession, talent, collaboration, and opportunism, typical of the craftsmanship of the period. This flat desk, known as a "Greek-style" desk, is a perfect example of the Louis XVI style. It combines marquetry of amaranth, satinwood, and other woods.

Regency chest of drawers

March 6, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, regency, furniture restoration, satin

Restoration of a bombé commode, veneered in satinwood with double boxwood stringing within amaranth borders. The frame is fir and the drawer units are walnut. It opens with four drawers in three rows. Its finely chased bronze mounts are silvered, not gilded as is customary. The uprights are veneered with a facsimile of brass fluting. The sides, decorated with a lozenge inscribed within a rectangle, echo the decorative motif of the front veneer. It is topped with a green Campan marble slab […]

Transition Secretary

February 21, 2025October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, secretary, 18th century

Restoration of a Transition-style secretary veneered in rosewood and amaranth, with simulated fluting in boxwood and ebony. The frame is made of oak and softwood. As is often the case with secretaries, one of the main areas of damage is at the hinges of the fall-front, which have cracked and damaged the frame and veneer. We first restored the solid wood that provides support and ensures the proper fit of the fall-front. We then filled in the missing amaranth veneer. We reinforced the backing, beneath the leather, […]

Regency style pedestal desk

November 28, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Desk, Veneering - Marquetry, regency, furniture restoration

Restoration of a desk veneered on all sides with yew burl and amaranth, decorated with geometric boxwood stringing. It opens with five drawers in the front and five simulated drawers in the back. Furthermore, the two lower drawers follow the contour of the edge and slide at a 45-degree angle. In addition, a bronze molding encircles the amaranth-veneered top. The desk rests on four cabriole legs, terminating in curious acanthus leaf bronzes. Finally, the frame is entirely oak, except for the drawers, which are walnut, with […]

Louis XVI Weekly Planner

November 15, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Louis XVI, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, satin

Restoration of a Louis XVI chest of drawers veneered in rosewood, satinwood, and amaranth. It opens with a series of seven drawers framed by rounded uprights with simulated fluting made of boxwood and blackened pearwood. A chest of drawers? The chest of drawers appeared in the mid-18th century. It was primarily intended for women. It is a chiffonier (which appeared during the Regency period, between 1715 and 1723) with seven drawers, one for each day of the week, for storing the day's undergarments. The restoration: This piece of furniture showed little […]

Louis XVI commode stamped J. LAPIE

November 7, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Louis XVI, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration

Lise restored this Louis XVI commode, stamped by Jean Lapie, during her internship at the workshop. The piece is constructed of oak, fir, and beech, veneered with rosewood with hornbeam and amaranth stringing, and adorned with gilt bronze mounts. And since Lise submitted an excellent internship report, I'm publishing it almost in its entirety. Jean Lapie (known as "The Younger"), son of the potter Nicolas Lapie, was born around 1734. Brother of the cabinetmaker Nicolas-Alexandre Lapie (known as "The Elder") and cousin of Jean-François Lapie, […]

Louis XVI wardrobe

October 26, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Cupboard, rosewood, Louis XVI, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style, 18th century

Restoration by Raphaël of a rosewood veneered cabinet with diamond-pointed doors, framed in amaranth and Greek key stringing. It opens with two large softwood doors veneered with oak. Some regluing and repairs of missing veneer, along with a good coat of clear French polish, have restored this piece of furniture to its former glory.

Regency style commode stamped Hédouin

September 19, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Vacuum bonding, convenient, HEDOUIN, Veneering - Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, regency, furniture restoration, satin

Here is the latest restoration by Raphaël, my apprentice. This commode has all the attributes of a Regency commode. Yet, Hédouin could only have made it well after this period (around 1715-1723). Indeed, he obtained his master craftsman's certificate in 1738, right in the middle of the Louis XV era. It is therefore more accurately described as a commode "in the Regency style," as cabinetmakers of the time called it. Moreover, its frame is entirely oak, except for the back panels, and its veneer combines amaranth and satinwood. Jean-Baptiste HEDOUIN The life of Jean-Baptiste Hédouin remains […]

Transitional dresser

June 28, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration

Restoration of a Transitional style chest of drawers veneered in rosewood and amaranth, with a green-stained Greek key pattern, on an oak frame. Congratulations to Lisa for this first restoration during her internship at the workshop! The work focused primarily on the front rails. First, Lisa replaced the missing amaranth veneer with sawn, scraped, and sanded veneer. Then she applied it to the correct thickness on the back face before gluing it with hot glue. Next, Labovert's GAMMA polar solvent allowed […]

Regency Games Table

May 24, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Veneering - Marquetry, regency, games table

Restoration of a Regency period games table converted into a desk, resting on four cabriole legs. It is veneered with thick amaranth leaves. It opens with two side drawers, known as "chétrons," and a removable top, secured by a push-button mechanism. This top is lined with leather on its facing and, on the reverse, with a checkerboard veneered in ebony and inlaid with ivory. When the top is removed, it reveals a backgammon set in ebony and ivory. The molded astragal surrounding the top is made of solid amaranth wood. The legs and stretchers are made of beech, the […]

Transition sauté pan with Boudin stamp

May 9, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Transitional style, 18th century

Restoration of a Transition period commode stamped by the master cabinetmaker Léonard Boudin (1735 in Paris – 20/12/1807). Constructed of solid oak, it is veneered with amaranth, rosewood, and tobacco-stained maple. Its marquetry of boxwood, hornbeam, and holly forms panels on the front and sides with motifs of flowering vases and covered pots. The front features a slight central projection and opens with two drawers without a central divider. Its rounded uprights rest on cabriole legs. Boudin also produced numerous Transition period commodes […]

Louis XIV Library Display Case

March 14, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, ebony, Boulle marquetry, walnut, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, library display case, 17th century

Restoration of a small Louis XIV period display cabinet inlaid with foliate scrolls in amaranth, ebony, and maple, framed in olive and cherry wood. The marquetry on this piece is known as the Boulle technique, or superimposed marquetry. The cabinet had a significant number of missing veneers. The restoration work therefore consisted of replacing all these missing veneers with scraped and sanded veneer, prepared to the correct thickness before being glued with hot glue. The most interesting task was the reconstruction of one missing piece […]

Regency commode with crowned R

March 8, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, violet wood, Bronzes, convenient, cherry tree, walnut, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, regency, furniture restoration, French polish, 18th century

Restoration of a Regency commode, probably from southeastern France, on a softwood frame. Its veneer combines yew, plum, rosewood, walnut, cherry, amaranth, violet wood, boxwood, and green-stained maple. Besides its highly unusual marquetry decoration, this commode is also distinguished by its crowned R bronze mounts. The crowned R hallmark should not be confused with the crowned C hallmark. The latter corresponds to a tax levied from 1745 to 1749 on objects made of […]

Cordié Transition-branded chest of drawers

February 23, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Transition

Restoration of a Transition period chiffonier, stamped by Guillaume Cordié and bearing the guild mark. It is veneered in rosewood and amaranth, on a frame of oak and softwood. However, its bronze fittings were added later. Guillaume Cordié, born around 1725, initially worked as a freelance craftsman before obtaining his master's certificate on June 18, 1766. He then established himself on the rue de Charonne, where he remained until his death. His works, of fine quality and harmonious proportions, are primarily in the Transition style […]

Transitional chest of drawers stamped SAUNIER

January 31, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, violet wood, Bronzes, Vacuum bonding, convenient, conservation, stamp, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Transitional style, French polish, 18th century

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. Furthermore, a green-stained maple and boxwood inset borders the entire piece. In addition, the uprights and door frames are veneered with violet wood and rosewood. The […]

Transition chest of drawers stamped Fromageau

January 26, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Transitional style

Restoration of a Transition-style commode, known as a "Greek-style" commode, stamped by Jean-Baptiste Fromageau. It is rosewood veneered, with an amaranth frieze and faux fluting. Topped with a Royal red marble slab, it opens with three drawers. The first, narrower drawer features a frieze of glyphs. The two following drawers, however, are inlaid with Greek key patterns at the corners in violet wood. The bronze mounts include ring handles, keyhole escutcheons with knotted ribbons, and a tailpiece with droplets. It also features […]

Louis XV commode stamped NA Lapie

January 16, 2024October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Louis XV, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, satin, French polish, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XV commode stamped Nicolas Alexandre Lapie, veneered in amaranth and satinwood. Its oak frame is of exceptionally high quality. However, the sides and drawer fronts are made of softwood. Finally, the top is a griotte marble from Campan. Nicolas Alexandre Lapie, son of Nicolas Lapie, a pottery merchant in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, and brother of the master cabinetmaker Jean Lapie, Nicolas Alexandre (known as the Elder) appears to have been born around 1730. He registered his master's letters at the Châtelet in Paris on August 17, 1764. […]

Louis XVI secretary stamped TOPINO

November 16, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, Vacuum bonding, stamp, Louis XVI, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, secretary, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XVI secretary desk stamped by Charles Topino. Its form is typical of Topino, and its frame is made of oak and softwood. The front opens with a drawer and a drop-front covered in red leather and tooled in gold. Behind the drop-front, two compartments and four drawers veneered in rosewood are revealed. Below, two marquetry doors depicting vases and draperies on a tobacco ground conceal a shelf. The drop-front itself features musical instruments, ribbons, and foliage, also on a tobacco ground. Around this, […]

Transition chest of drawers stamped LEGRY

November 11, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, Transition

Restoration of a transitional commode stamped by Jean-Louis-François Legry. Its frame is made of oak and softwood. It is veneered with amaranth, rosewood, and satinwood on the sides, with ebony and boxwood stringing. This commode exemplifies the very end of the transition between the Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. The legs remain the only vestige of the Louis XV curves; they would soon give way to the straight legs of the Louis XVI style. Jean-Louis-François Legry, born in 1745, obtained his master's degree in Paris on […]

Louis XV desk

September 29, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Desk, Vacuum bonding, Louis XV, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration

Restoration of a Louis XV desk veneered in rosewood and violet wood on an oak and softwood frame. Replacement of missing veneer, cleaning, and refinishing with a French polish. Cleaning and conservation of the leather. Removal and steam cleaning of the gilt bronze mounts. To see previous restorations: https://ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr/en-ce-moment-a-latelier/

Transitional chest of drawers stamped J.STUMPFF

September 23, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration

Here are some images of the restoration of this commode stamped by Jean-Chrysostôme Stumpff (1731 – January 17, 1806 – received as a master craftsman on August 27, 1766). Its frame combines oak and softwood. Furthermore, it is veneered with rosewood in a butterfly wing pattern and amaranth, with stringing of boxwood and green-stained maple. J. Stumpff, originally from Schweigern, Swabia (Germany), married in 1760 in Paris, at the Swedish embassy, like most of his Protestant compatriots. In fact, his witness was his colleague […]

Writing table stamped JF LELEU

July 14, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, oak

Restauration d’une table à écrire Louis XVI estampillée de Jean François Leleu. Elle est entièrement bâtie en chêne. Sur toutes ses faces, elle est plaquée de croisillons d’érable teinté gris, avec des filets d’amarante, de buis et de bois noirci, et des fleurons en buis sur fond de bois de rose. Les quatre pieds sont ornementés d’un médaillon de feuille d’acanthe sur fond de sycomore teinté vert. Des clochettes agrémentent le haut et le bas du fleuron ainsi que le haut des pieds. Sur le plateau les croisillons sont concentrés […]

Transition chest of drawers stamped Etienne AVRIL

June 22, 2023October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, Transition, French polish, 18th century

Restoration of a Transition-style commode stamped three times E.AVRIL. It is veneered with amaranth, rosewood, and satinwood. In addition, it is adorned with green-tinted stringing. Finally, its frame is made of oak and softwood. Etienne Avril (1748-1791) Étienne Avril, known as Avril the Elder to distinguish him from his brother Pierre, became a master cabinetmaker on November 23, 1774. Dying young in 1791, he thus witnessed the agony of the Ancien Régime and the end of the guilds. Born in 1748, the son of a cab driver, nothing, however, destined him for cabinetmaking. […]

8-foot desk stamped Manet

December 24, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, Bronzes, Desk, Vacuum bonding, Copy of an old, Marquetry, Boulle marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 17th century, 18th century

Restoration of an eight-legged desk, commonly known as a "Mazarin" desk, from the Louis XIV period, late/early 17th century. Its frame is made of solid pear and softwood, with pear wood sides and drawer bottoms. It features two side cabinets, each with three drawers, and a central drawer above a middle cabinet with rounded edges. Two X-shaped stretchers connect the uprights and the eight console-like legs. The drawers are inlaid with pewter and blackened pear wood, depicting a late 17th-century design. The sides, as well as […]

Louis XVI secretary stamped Montigny

November 3, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Louis XVI, Veneering - Marquetry, 18th century

A little restoration for this Louis XV period secretary desk stamped by Philippe-Claude Montigny. It is constructed of oak and softwood, and veneered with rosewood, amaranth, and boxwood. It consists of a top drawer, a drop-front, and two doors. The interior compartments contain six drawers. Philippe Claude Montigny (1734-1800) became a master craftsman on January 29, 1766. Son of Louis Montigny, a privileged craftsman of the King, he owned a workshop in the Contrescarpe district of Paris. He was also the brother-in-law of Fidelis Schey, a cabinetmaker […]

P.ROUSSEL Games Table

August 23, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, violet wood, Bronzes, Louis XV, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, games table

Restoration of a Louis XV period marquetry game table (or backgammon table) with dice (or cubes) veneered in amaranth, rosewood, violet wood, palisander, ebony, and ivory. This table is stamped by the Parisian cabinetmaker Pierre Roussel (September 28, 1723 – June 7, 1782). Pierre Roussel was the son of Michel Roussel, a journeyman cabinetmaker from the Cotentin peninsula. His younger brothers, Jacques, Michel, and Louis, chose carpentry; he alone opted for cabinetmaking. He became a master on August 21, 1745. He then set up shop in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, on rue […]

Louis XVI commode stamped JB.Tuart

April 8, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, Vacuum bonding, convenient, conservation, stamp, Louis XVI, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

Here is a very pretty Louis XVI period commode, veneered in rosewood and amaranth, with marquetry of boxwood, pearwood, maple, hornbeam, walnut, blackened pearwood, lemonwood… It is built of oak and softwood. It is stamped twice with the mark of Jean-Baptiste II TUART. But its maker is probably Jean LAPIE. Jean-Baptiste II Tuart came from a dynasty of Parisian cabinetmakers and merchants. His father, Jean-Baptiste I, obtained his master craftsman's certificate in 1741 and remained active until around 1760. Born around 1720, Jean-Baptiste II was not a master cabinetmaker, but a master woodworker […]

Secretary LXVI stamped Martin Carlin

March 22, 2022October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathmahogany, amaranth, Bronzes, stamp, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, secretary, French polish, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XVI period lady's writing desk stamped by Martin Carlin JME. The frame is solid oak, with softwood for the drop-front and lower door. The exterior is entirely veneered in Honduran mahogany, except for the upper edge, which is embellished with a thin strip of amaranth. The interiors are veneered with rosewood, amaranth, and stringing of boxwood and ebony. Of particular interest: the upper interior compartment has never been restored and retains its original finish, a magnificent polish that has preserved its colors and luster […]

Louis XVI commode

December 20, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, violet wood, Bronzes, convenient, Louis XVI, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, 18th century

This week, we restored a Louis XVI commode with a projecting front, veneered in Rio rosewood, amaranth, rosewood, and violet wood. Boxwood and ebony stringing forms a coiled ribbon, with engravings filled in red wax. Finally, the tapered feet and canted uprights feature faux fluting in ebony and boxwood. However, no stamp allows us to attribute this very fine piece, crafted from high-quality wood. The restoration required little work. In fact, a colleague was already […]

Louis XV/Transition Commode by Nicolas Abraham Couleru

August 25, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, Louis XVI, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, polite, furniture restoration

This slightly curved commode opens with three drawers. It is veneered with bottomless cubes of walnut, plum, and cherry wood. Its top is inlaid with a bouquet of flowers on an amaranth ground. Plum, or damson, is easily recognizable by its sapwood demarcations: these create a lighter pattern and give the decoration an irregular appearance. The frame is made of fir and walnut. It is difficult to assign this commode to a specific style. It is Louis XV, but the simplicity of its stringing and the marquetry framing clearly suggests […]

Transitional chest of drawers stamped A. HERICOURT

July 22, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, convenient, Veneering - Marquetry, Transition

Congratulations to Arnaud for the restoration of this Transition period commode veneered in rosewood, amaranth, and satinwood for the sides, and green-stained maple for the stringing. The frame is made of oak and softwood. Antoine Héricourt (c. 1730–1792) obtained his master craftsman's certificate on October 20, 1773, after working for several years as a journeyman in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine. He then established himself on the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, later becoming a representative of his guild and a syndic. His substantial output, highly prized by both French and international clientele, includes classical furniture and […]

Transition cylinder desk

May 22, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, cylinder desk, Vacuum bonding, conservation, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, satin, secretary, Transition, 18th century

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of restoring this magnificent Transition period (1780) roll-top desk. Its frame is made of oak and fir. Most notably, it is veneered with rosewood, arranged in a butterfly pattern on the fall front. Around this, a delicate border of boxwood and green-stained hornbeam stringing is edged with a narrow band of amaranth. The back is veneered in satinwood. Finally, the central marquetry, on a tobacco-stained sycamore background, depicts musical instruments. Two doves are flying above, a musical score within […]

Transitional chest of drawers stamped LARDIN

April 20, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, convenient, conservation, graft, LARDIN, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, satin, Transition

Restoration of a Transition period commode, constructed of fir and oak and veneered with rosewood. It is framed by hornbeam stringing, white and green-stained, with a satinwood band edged in amaranth. The central medallion is made of satinwood veneer assembled in a herringbone pattern. The maker's mark and the JME (Journée des Métiers d'Art) are located at the base of the left rear leg. André-Antoine Lardin (1724 – August 10, 1790) obtained his master craftsman's certificate on July 1, 1750. He established himself on the rue de Charenton, at the sign "Au Bois de Boulogne," and worked there until 1770. He then moved […]

Louis XVI commode

February 6, 2021October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, oak, convenient, graft, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style, French polish, 18th century

Restoration of a Louis XVI period commode from eastern France. It is made of solid oak and fir, veneered with end-grain laburnum, walnut, plum, amaranth, rosewood, palisander, boxwood, and green-stained hornbeam. The handles and keyhole escutcheons were added later. Indeed, the original fittings have disappeared: only the handle holes remain. This is a piece of furniture that has never been restored. Moreover, the veneer is almost 4 mm thick in places. Furthermore, one can see […]

J.STUMPFF Roll-Top Desk

June 7, 2020October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, Desk, J.STUMPFF, Veneering - Marquetry, Louis XVI style

Restoration and conservation work on this rare Louis XVI period roll-top desk stamped by Jean-Chrysostôme Stumpff (1731 – January 17, 1806), who became a master craftsman on August 27, 1766. Originally from Schweigern, Swabia (Germany), he married in 1760 in Paris, at the Swedish embassy, like most of his compatriots of the Reformed faith. His witness was his fellow cabinetmaker Ferdinand Schwerdfeger. In his workshop on Rue Saint-Nicolas, he produced some Louis XV furniture, but primarily a large number of Transition and Louis XVI pieces. Stumpff's production […]

Louis XVI commode stamped JA BRUNS

March 16, 2020October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Bronzes, oak, Vacuum bonding, convenient, graft, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style, French polish

This week marks the completion of the restoration of a Louis XVI commode stamped JA BRUNS. Its frame is oak, except for the side panels, backs, drawer fronts, and two drawer bottoms, which are made of softwood. It is veneered with rosewood in a butterfly pattern and amaranth for the edges. The false fluting is in boxwood and ebony. A green-stained maple fillet outlines the Greek key corners. A few satinwood additions from previous restorations are visible. The marble top is Sainte-Anne gray. This commode […]

Secretary stamped P.ROUSSEL JME

February 8, 2020October 27, 2026 Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, Vacuum bonding, stamp, Louis XV, Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, restoration, furniture restoration, secretary, French polish

Here are some images of the restoration of a secretary desk stamped by Pierre Roussel (1723-1782). Having become a master cabinetmaker in 1745, Pierre Roussel set up shop on Rue de Charenton, in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, under the sign "L'Image de Saint Pierre" (The Image of Saint Peter). Thanks to his skills as a cabinetmaker and especially as an exceptional marquetry artist, he quickly gained a great reputation. In 1762, he became a sworn member of his guild. By 1767, he was considered one of the best cabinetmakers of his time. Highly regarded by his colleagues, he became a representative of the cabinetmakers' guild in 1777 and then syndic two […]