Restoration. Conservation. Creation
Restoration of a commode with added consoles, commonly but improperly called a "Mazarine commode", from the Regency period, veneered with end-grain olive wood and ash, probably from the Dauphiné.
Conservation work on this Regency period commode. It is distinguished by its serpentine shape and its rosewood veneer, adorned with gilt bronze mounts, on an oak and softwood frame. Our first task was to stabilize the veneered surfaces by injecting protein-based adhesive. Next, the gaps were filled with grafts of new rosewood, sawn, scraped, and sanded. These grafts, then French polished, were allowed to oxidize naturally under UV light. Finally, we prepared them to the correct thickness on the backing and then glued them in place with hot glue. […]
Restoration of a Regency period commode, stamped Nicolas-Jean Marchand. It is veneered in kingwood with a diamond-point pattern, on an oak frame. It opens with four drawers. Furthermore, a set of chased bronze mounts bearing the crowned C adorns the whole. These include thick drop handles and large gadrooned rosettes. In addition, there are cartel-shaped keyhole escutcheons and espagnolette drops, terminating in eagle-claw feet. The crowned C: The royal edict of 1745 imposed a distinctive mark on bronze workers: a "C" […]
Here is the latest major restoration project undertaken by Raphaël, our apprentice. It involves a pair of Louis XV style commodes bearing an unknown stamp, CCS, which could be attributed to Charles Claude Saunier, an early work by the latter. Please find below the detailed account of the work carried out by Raphaël. Enjoy your reading. Restoration of a Pair of Louis XV Commodes This restoration project concerns two commodes with a slanted top, designed according to the aesthetic and technical principles of the Louis XV style. This style is characterized by its lines […]
This Louis XVI period half-moon commode is stamped by the cabinetmaker Jacques Laurent Cosson. It belongs to a production probably dating from 1780 to 1790. It is an exceptional example of painted furniture from the end of the Ancien Régime. It belongs to a very small group, of which only seven examples are currently known. Highly sought-after 18th-century French painted furniture represents one of the most inventive areas of Parisian cabinetmaking on the eve of the Revolution. This commode, with its curved, half-moon shape, rests on four tapered legs […]
Restoration of a Louis XIV Dauphiné commode, veneered in geometric Alpine wood. With a bombé front, it opens with three drawers in three rows. Moreover, its proportions and construction are those of a full-size commode (dovetail joints, intermediate shelves, etc.). The cabinetmaker has masterfully played with contrasts by juxtaposing different wood species. The quality and variety of the woods used in this small piece of furniture are noteworthy. First, olive and olive burl. Then walnut and rosewood for the framing bands, highlighted with double fillets of […]
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 […]
Restoration of a Regency period commode, topped with a 30 mm thick Rance marble slab, molded with a corbelled edge. Curved in plan and elevation, both on the front and sides, it is veneered with snakewood and satinwood. It has four drawers (giving the appearance of six), in three rows. Its voluminous feet evoke the clawed paws of a dragon. It is adorned with brass fluting and chased and gilded bronze mounts: chased waterleaf frames framing the drawers, thick drop handles with shell motifs, wide plates with […]
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 […]
A little facelift for this imposing chest of drawers from the Lyon region. A few walnut grafts, a bit of carving, a good restoration of the waxed finish, and above all, a good dose of elbow grease have allowed this piece of furniture to regain all its luster.
Restoration of a Louis XV commode stamped Jean-Baptiste Fromageau. Its frame is made of oak and softwood. It is inlaid with rosewood within violet wood borders. Curved at the front and flared at the sides, it opens with four drawers in three rows. Finally, a gray Sainte-Anne marble top crowns it. Jean-Baptiste Fromageau, son of a master cabinetmaker, was born around 1725. Admitted as a master on November 5, 1755, he first established himself on Rue Traversière, then on Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine. Moreover, the Dauphin almanac lists his workshop among the most important in Paris. Cabinetmaker, […]
Restoration of a commode from the first half of the 18th century, curved in height and bombé in plan. It opens with four drawers in three rows. Known as a tomb-shaped or Regency commode, it belongs to a much smaller group: that of commodes with a bridge and mustache-shaped finials. Its frame is typical of the Regency period. The uprights are made of oak, and the rest is primarily a high-quality softwood. The drawers, fitted with mortise and tenon joints, are made of walnut. The veneer uses only two types of wood, […]
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, […]
Minor restoration was required for this Regency commode, known as a "sarcophagus commode." Indeed, a few veneer repairs and a refinishing of the varnish were enough to restore its former glory. The sarcophagus commode? The first commodes were designed by André-Charles Boulle. Then, a few years later, during the Regency period, commodes with curved sides and tops appeared. Throughout the 18th century, they were known as "Regency-style" commodes. Similarly, it wasn't until 1720 that commodes with two rows of drawers reappeared.
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 […]
A look back at the restoration of this rare port chest of drawers. It is made of solid woods brought back from the Orient and the West Indies. Indeed, it combines four precious woods: mahogany, satinwood, palo santo, and ebony. Most notably, it features a fifth: royal ebony. This chest of drawers opens with three wide palo santo drawers, arranged in three rows, separated by Ceylon ebony crossbars. A solid, framed top covers it. Its parquet flooring combines royal ebony crossbars and a mahogany back, partly mottled or pommeled. […]
Restoration is complete for this important and rare Regency period commode, known as a "tomb-shaped" commode, a "Regency-style" commode, or a "moustache" commode. Curved on all sides, it features four drawers in three rows. It is topped with Vieux Rance marble from Belgium. It's worth noting that at the beginning of the 18th century, Rance was a French village. Molded in a corbel shape, the marble follows its contours. Veneered entirely in kingwood, this wide commode is enlivened by its powerful curves. Furthermore, brass fluting adorns the front and sides. Most notably, it bears […]
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 […]
This week, a bit of a change of pace with solid wood. It feels good to get the gouges out again and work on walnut for the restoration of this chest of drawers.
Here is the latest restoration by Raphaël, my apprentice. It's a Louis XV period commode. It's veneered in rosewood and violet wood, on a frame of oak and softwood. Condition report: This was an ideal project for tackling the restoration of the structure and veneer. Indeed, almost all the panels were detached and too short. Furthermore, the joints were loose. In addition, both sides had separated from the uprights and were split in the middle. Finally, of course, the […]
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 […]
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 […]
Restoration of a curious Directoire commode in solid walnut and walnut, mahogany, and maple veneer, featuring marquetry of a Medici vase and a Louis XIV-inspired ballet dancer, in brass on an ebony ground. The drawers have walnut bottoms with an ebony stringing surmounted by a quarter-round brass and wood molding, surrounded by a mahogany molding. The uprights are three-quarter-fluted columns terminating in toupie feet. The locks are in the shape of trefoils. A conservation project for this […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Restoration of a Regency period serpentine commode, known as a "spanielette" commode. Curved on all sides, it is veneered in violet wood over a walnut frame. It opens with four drawers in three rows. A Belgian griotte red marble top, with ears and a corbel edge, crowns it. Like the front rails, its pinched uprights feature brass fluting. Its high-quality bronze mounts are superbly chased. Indeed, it features very rare espagnolettes, seen on only six commodes. Four […]
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 […]
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 […]
Restoration of a Regency period commode in alternating rosewood and walnut, inlaid with friezes and fillets. Its slightly curved front opens with three wide drawers. A brass molding encircles the top, which features a geometric design of circles around a central polylobed motif adorned with figures. Polished brass fluting embellishes the uprights and rails. The sides are veneered with walnut in a diamond pattern. Finally, the tapered feet terminate in claw feet. The commode also features large, chased and gilded bronze mounts.
Restoration of a Louis XIV period commode veneered in olive burl, ash, and walnut, likely from the Dauphiné region. This type of D-shaped commode, along with the Mazarine commode, is among the very first commodes popularized under Louis XIV. The first French furniture resembling the commode did not appear until around 1700. The oldest known and datable Parisian commodes are those delivered by André-Charles Boulle to Versailles around 1708. Their very simple decorations are inspired by Dutch designs. They are often the work of Protestant cabinetmakers, who were very fond of […]
Restoration of a Regency commode, veneered in rosewood on a conifer frame. It was only after three weeks of work that I noticed a strange mark. It had been right in front of me from the start, and I hadn't seen it. It is indeed quite rare to see a stamped Regency commode. But yes, the mark was definitely there. And it's not a modest one: this ID stamp is attributed to Jacques Denizot. Jacques Denizot (1684–1760) was a Parisian cabinetmaker who remains relatively unknown. […]
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. […]
Restoration of a Louis XV period commode veneered in rosewood and violet wood. The commode, also known as the commode sauteuse, appeared during the Regency period, between 1705 and 1730, and is attributed to the cabinetmaker Charles Cressent. It consists of two drawers or two rows of drawers. The body is raised on half-height supports, with the body occupying half the height of the piece and the other half the legs. Intended to distinguish itself from the heavy and massive Louis XIV style, it is slender and graceful, almost ethereal. After restoration […]
Restoration of a Transition period commode stamped by the master cabinetmaker Léonard Boudin (1735 in Paris – 20/12/1807). It is constructed of solid oak and veneered with amaranth, rosewood, and ribbon satinwood (Brosimum rubescens). This South American wood owes its highly decorative appearance to the pronounced interlocked grain of its quarter-sawn construction. It belongs to the same family as snakewood (Brosimum guianense). Boudin was primarily a merchant during the Transition period. It is therefore likely that this commode is by the hand of André Louis Gilbert (1746-1809), when he was not yet […]
Restoration of a Louis XIV period commode in olive burl, rosewood, and boxwood, likely from the Dauphiné region. Along with Mazarine commodes, this type of D-shaped commode is among the very first commodes produced during the reign of Louis XIV. Indeed, the first French furniture resembling the commode only appeared around 1700. Thus, the oldest known Parisian commodes are those delivered by André-Charles Boulle to Versailles around 1708. Their very simple decorations are inspired by Dutch models. They are, moreover, often the work of Protestant cabinetmakers, who favored native woods according to the precepts of […]
Restoration of a commode stamped Michel Mallerot. With its serpentine front, it is entirely veneered in kingwood. Its frame is made of fir. As for the drawers, their sides are beech and their bottoms are walnut. You don't know Michel Mallerot? That's understandable! Indeed, Michel Mallerot (1675-1753) remains little known, like many Parisian cabinetmakers of the early 18th century. He was identified thanks to a pencil inscription, "M. Mallerot," on a Regency commode bearing this abbreviated stamp (formerly in the Philippe Glédel collection). The […]
To start the year, here are some photos of the restoration of this Regency commode. Made entirely of softwood, it is veneered with kingwood. Its uprights and rails are adorned with brass fluting. The bronze handles, influenced by Asia and the East India Company trade, are commonly referred to as "Chinese." The keyhole escutcheons, meanwhile, herald the arrival of the Louis XV style in the first half of the 18th century. Upon its arrival, in addition to some missing and peeling veneer, the commode presented a problem […]
Here is the restoration of a small Louis XV commode, made of solid satinwood and ribboned satinwood. Curved on all sides, including the back, it opens with three drawers. In addition, a pull-out candle holder opens at the back. It comes from La Rochelle and dates from the 18th century. Its top, molded with a corbel-shaped edge highlighted by a cavetto molding, is made of ribboned satinwood. This wood is also used on the front and sides. In contrast, the base is made of straight-grain satinwood, with "snail" feet ending in split goat's hoof feet. [… ]
A true renaissance for this chest of drawers, which I call Louis XV/Transitional because its form and construction are entirely Louis XV. However, the handles and keyhole escutcheons are typically Louis XVI. And I can attest that these are indeed its original fittings. The nail holes match perfectly, and there are no other holes beneath the bronze mounts. So, even if this piece of furniture doesn't conform to what is commonly called the Transitional style, this chest of drawers is most certainly one of the first […]
Restoration of a Louis XVI period provincial commode. It is constructed of softwood and oak, and veneered with violet wood, rosewood, sycamore maple, boxwood, ebony, and stained maple. At its center, a bucolic scene depicts two women playing cards between two trees, watched by a man. In the background, a house and a church are visible. The entire scene is framed by a medallion of flowers engraved and colored with black and red wax. The two lower drawers are framed by a frieze depicting a […]
Restoration of a Transition period commode. Constructed of fir and oak, it is veneered with rosewood and violet wood, with a Greek key frieze of green-stained hornbeam stringing. The sides are veneered with satinwood and violet wood. André-Antoine Lardin (1724 – August 10, 1790) obtained his master craftsman's certificate on July 1, 1750. He set up shop on rue de Charenton, under the sign "Au Bois de Boulogne." He worked there until 1770, then moved to rue Saint-Nicolas. His output was considerable. His furniture, in all styles (Louis […]
Restoration of a Louis XIV period commode, known as a Mazarine commode, veneered in brass and ebony on a softwood frame. Its drawers are serpentine: two full-length drawers surmounted by two half-drawers separated by an intermediate stile. Their fronts are made of softwood, their sides and bottoms of walnut. The brass decoration supporting the pendant handles features fine marquetry of scrolls, foliage, foliage, and arabesques. A geometric brass cartouche frames it and simulates keyhole escutcheons. The commode rests on four supports with […]
This week, I'm presenting a Louis XIV commode from the first half of the 18th century. It's veneered in Rio rosewood and adorned with Chinese-style bronze mounts. Height: 85.7 cm, Width: 125 cm, Depth: 60.5 cm. The frame is made of softwood, with planks joined edge-to-edge. The sides, top, and bottom are dovetailed. The back is composed of several planks nailed into the rebates of the sides. The drawer bottoms and sides are made of […]
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 […]
Restoration of a Regency commode veneered in rosewood and palisander. It arrived in very poor condition: the joints were completely detached, there were numerous missing veneers, and significant structural deformations on the sides. Its patina was also heavily soiled by multiple layers of dark wax. The bronze mounts and locks had been added in the 19th century during a restoration—a typical restoration for this type of furniture. We re-glued the sides and joints as best we could, replaced the missing veneer, and reattached the brass fluting. Above all, […]
Restoration of this unusual piece of furniture from Austria/Hungary. I had some difficulty placing it geographically. It clearly didn't come from France, but rather from Eastern Europe. But from where? Fortunately, the engravings provide valuable clues. The clothing corresponds to the late 17th or early 18th century. The landscapes show mountains and villages, deciduous and coniferous trees, and several ruins of medieval castles. So it's not northeastern Europe, but rather Bavaria or Austria/Hungary. […]
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 […]
Originating in the late 17th century but only acquiring its name in the early 18th century, this is the first classic model of a commode. Although typically Louis XIV in style, it may not have existed before the Regency period. With rounded corner pilasters with slightly convex faces, deep copper fluting, veneer, and geometric bronze mounts, it features three rows of drawers. It perpetuates the spirit of Louis XIV furniture throughout much of the 18th century. Bibliography: Furniture […]
Restoration of a transitional period commode with a projecting front, veneered in rosewood and palisander. The Greek key-patterned moldings, stained green, are made of hornbeam, and the front features a butterfly wing design. It opens with two large drawers with concealed crossbars, and three drawers in an upper row. The uprights, with simulated fluting, are veneered in ebony and boxwood. It rests on four cabriole legs adorned with hoof-shaped feet. Over the centuries, its structure has […]
Jacques-Antoine Leclere (1744 – January 30, 1792) obtained his master craftsman's certificate in Paris on September 29, 1779. He worked on the rue du Faubourg-Saint-Antoine, then on the rue des Barres, and finally in the courtyard of the Jewish Quarter, a stone's throw from the Bastille. This cabinetmaker produced well-made Louis XV and Louis XVI pieces. He used rosewood, satinwood, mahogany, and also lacquer panels. His stamp can be found on secretaries, chests of drawers, and various small pieces of furniture. For example, a pair of Louis XVI half-moon commodes veneered […]
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 […]
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 […]
This small chest of drawers has a classic form typical of the Regency period. It still retains the rigor of the Louis XIV style: the front is curved, the front uprights are rounded, and the sides remain straight. It opens with three drawers. Its uprights and intermediate rails are decorated with brass fluting. The frame is entirely made of fir. The intermediate panels are dovetailed into the sides. The back is made of horizontal planks, nailed with rebates. The drawers are walnut, except for their wooden fronts […]
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 […]
This is a significant restoration project for this Louis XV commode, originally veneered in rosewood and violet wood. It took me some time to confirm that it was indeed violet wood. This commode has undergone so many restorations that it now contains almost as much rosewood as violet wood. Fortunately, the drawers are still in fairly good condition, and they are definitely violet wood. I therefore conclude that the commode was originally veneered with these two woods. [… ]
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 […]
Restoration of a chest of drawers veneered in Rio rosewood, with satinwood stringing. It opens with two large drawers and, in the upper section, two smaller ones. Its frame is made of oak and fir. It also bears the stamp J.BIRCKLE and the JME hallmark on the left upright. Finally, there are some traces of restoration and an ink mark on one side of a drawer. Jacques Bircklé (1734-1803) – Cabinetmaker – master craftsman obtained on July 30, 1764. One of the suppliers to the Royal Furniture Repository under Louis XVI. Free craftsman […]
The commode with a jumping top appears to have been invented during the Regency period, between 1705 and 1730, by the cabinetmaker Charles Cressent. It then became widespread under Louis XV. It has only two drawers, or two rows of drawers. Its body is raised on cabriole legs of medium height: the body occupies half the height of the piece, the legs the other half. The observer thus has the impression that the piece has legs allowing it to jump like a frog. The width offers straight, curved, or crossbow-shaped forms. The marble top follows the […]
This week, here are some photos of the restoration of this Empire-style chest of drawers veneered in mahogany burl. Its originality lies primarily in the quality of its bronze mounts. Indeed, together with the side columns, they form quivers. Furthermore, the keyhole escutcheons feature two crossed laurel branches tied with a ribbon. Originally, the bronze mounts were mercury-gilded, as evidenced by the gilding stains on the back. Unfortunately, only a few traces remain on the visible surface. Moreover, it is all the more unique because I must […]
Extensive restoration of this superb Louis XV period commode, stamped on all four uprights by Jean-Baptiste Hedouin. The frame and drawers are made of solid oak, fir, and walnut. It is veneered with satinwood for the frieze edges and features geometric marquetry in violet wood. Two types of violet wood are used: one with a very tight grain and veining for the lozenges, the other more intricate for the borders, uprights, and rails. The gray Ardennes marble is molded and shaped into the forms […]
Here is a very simple commode from eastern France, probably dating from the late 18th century. Its front is slightly curved and its uprights are chamfered. The bronze mounts are probably not original. The frame is made of solid softwood, the uprights of oak. The drawer bottoms are set in a rebate and slide on the drawer fronts, which is typical of provincial work. A small unusual feature: the commode has no top panel; the marble slab rests directly on the frame. At the level of […]
Here are some photos of the restoration of a solid walnut commode, veneered with thuya burl inlay, with Greek key stringing in amaranth and boxwood. The drawers and the interior and back panels are made of fir. Despite the curved stretcher, its shape, and its feet, this commode is indeed in the Transition style, but from the Louis XVI period. In the title, I wrote "in the style of the Hache family": this commode certainly comes from the Dauphiné region. But that it came from the workshop of the famous family of cabinetmakers […]
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 […]
Here is a charming Louis XIV period Mazarine commode. With a serpentine front, it opens with three drawers in three rows. Furthermore, a marquetry top featuring a compass rose on an end-grain wood background crowns it. Its fir frame is also veneered with a very fine olive wood veneer, both end-grain and straight-grain, and rosewood. The sides are made of ash, while the stringing and compass rose are boxwood. Finally, the rails are joined with straight dovetail joints on the sides, which has […]
During the turbulent period of the French Revolution, furniture production declined sharply, and most artisans faced very difficult times. Overall, from the Directory to the Consulate, furniture and seating had little time to evolve. Some Egyptian-inspired motifs had already appeared, but it was with the Egyptian expedition (1798-1801) that they formed a distinct style. However, the "Return from Egypt" style lasted only about ten years at most: it was quickly replaced by the Empire style, imposed by Napoleon. This commode features all of these elements…
Cette année, pour la deuxième année consécutive, les Journées du patrimoine permettaient de visiter une partie des réserves et les ateliers de restauration du mobilier national. Ainsi, l’édition 2019 exposait la commode de « l’ingratitude ». Cette commode a d’ailleurs une histoire bien particulière. La Couronne la commande, et elle est livrée le 13 juillet 1789, veille de la prise de la Bastille. Son créateur est l’ébéniste Pierre-François Guignard, reçu maître le 21 janvier 1767. Or, payé par le Garde-Meuble le 13 juillet, il prend dès le lendemain une part […]
A month ago, a lovely Transition-style commode arrived at the workshop. It reminds me of the work of the cabinetmaker Charles Topino (circa 1742-1803) – who received his master craftsman's certificate on July 4, 1773. But it doesn't bear his stamp, nor any other for that matter. Proof that a piece of high-quality furniture doesn't need a stamp. Its marquetry could very well have come from Topino's workshop. He did, in fact, sell marquetry panels to haberdashers and his colleagues, who used them to adorn their furniture. This commode could therefore be inspired by Topino […]
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, whose name is also spelled Allaume, became a master craftsman in Paris on November 6, 1754. Many pieces of furniture bearing his stamp are known, mostly Louis XV commodes. For over thirty years, in his workshop on Rue Traversière, he produced numerous high-quality pieces. These are primarily […]
This week, we're revisiting the restoration of a Louis XIV period commode, a commode known as a Mazarine commode. But where does the name "Mazarine" come from? Well, it seems that the first example was made for the famous Mazarine Library, quite simply. The illustrious creator of the commode was none other than André-Charles Boulle himself. In 1708, for Louis XIV's bedroom at Trianon, he revolutionized a type of furniture: the commode. It owes its name to its practical, "commode" shape, compared to the chests that were so common at the time. Now on display at Versailles, the two […]
