walnut

Louis XIV style commode – Grenoble, first third of the 18th century

Mathieu VathBronzes, convenient, Louis XIV, Rio Rosewood, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration, French polish
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of a Louis XIV Dauphiné commode, veneered in geometric Alpine wood, with a bombé front and three drawers in three rows. The model's proportions and construction are similar to those of a full-size commode (dovetail joints, intermediate shelves, etc.). The cabinetmaker skillfully played with contrasts through the juxtaposition of wood species, and the quality and variety of the woods used on this small piece of furniture are remarkable: primarily olive and olive burl, walnut, and rosewood for the framing bands highlighted with […]

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Art Nouveau desk with Primroses by Louis Majorelle

Mathieu VathArt Nouveau, Desk, Veneering - Marquetry, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of an Art Nouveau desk stamped by Louis Majorelle in Nancy around 1905. It is made of solid walnut and veneered with primrose flower marquetry. The work consisted of replacing missing veneer, cleaning, and restoring the waxed finish. Louis Majorelle was born in September 1859 in Toul and died in January 1926 in Nancy at the age of 66. Son of the renowned furniture designer Auguste Majorelle, he demonstrated a particular interest in craftsmanship and drawing from a very young age. […]

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Directoire Commode

Mathieu Vathmahogany, convenient, conservation, directory, walnut, Veneering - Marquetry
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

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 […]

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Louis XIV commode

Mathieu VathBronzes, Vacuum bonding, convenient, conservation, graft, Louis XIV, walnut, Veneering - Marquetry, polite, furniture restoration, 18th century
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of a Louis XIV period commode veneered in olive burl, ash, and walnut, likely from the Dauphiné region. This type of commode (D-shaped), along with the Mazarine commode, was among the very first commodes popularized under Louis XIV. Indeed, the appearance of the earliest French furniture resembling the commode dates only from the 1700s; thus, 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, often executed by […]

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Eight-foot desk known as the "Mazarin" desk«

Mathieu VathDesk, Veneering - Marquetry, furniture restoration
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of an iconic piece of Louis XIV furniture, the Mazarin desk, named after the famous minister who served the king between 1642 and 1661, and who gave his name to this type of eight-legged desk. The stretchers and the narrow space between the two drawer units are a reminder that this type of desk required the user to sit at an angle: one knee below the writing surface and the other outside. This position was dictated by the wearing of the sword, always on the left. This […]

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Money changer's office

Mathieu VathDesk, Veneering - Marquetry, 17th century
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

A few weeks ago, I presented you with a money changer's table. Well, here is its successor, the money changer's desk. Inspired by the eight-legged desks more commonly known as "Mazarin desks," the money changer's desk is a smaller version. Designed to be frequently transported, it must ensure the security of the valuables it contains and showcase the prosperity of its owner through its marquetry and veneer decorations, which vary in richness. For those interested in the origins of these pieces of furniture and the money changer's trade…

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Prie-Dieu

Mathieu VathSolid Wood, walnut, 19th century
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

A first contact and a truly beautiful job by Rachèle on the restoration of this walnut prie-dieu dating from the late 19th century. The project was quite daunting. Left abandoned for years, it had been ravaged by wood-boring insects. The first task was to treat the piece with anoxic agents for 21 days. Then, as nothing was holding together anymore, each element was disassembled, which wasn't too difficult, and then glued back together […]

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compass rose

Mathieu VathCreation, Contemporary creation
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Creation of a compass rose in 8mm solid wood, veneered onto 8mm plywood. It is composed of maple, dark walnut, and sipo for the rose itself; cherry for the background; and sapele, light walnut, and maple for the frieze and cardinal points. It will be integrated into a solid walnut parquet floor; unfortunately, I am not doing the installation… I hope to be able to see and show you the final result soon.

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Louis XVI commode

Mathieu Vathamaranth, rosewood, oak, convenient, graft, Veneering - Marquetry, sawn veneer, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style, French polish, 18th century
Ebénisterie Mathieu Vath

Restoration of a Louis XVI period commode from eastern France, made of solid oak and fir and veneered with end-grain laburnum, walnut, plum, amaranth, rosewood, palisander, boxwood, and green-stained hornbeam. The handles and keyholes were added at a later date. The original fittings are missing; only the holes for the handles remain. This is a piece of furniture that has never been restored. The veneer is almost 4 mm thick in some places, and […]

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Chest of drawers in the style of the Axe

Mathieu VathSolid Wood, convenient, graft, restoration, furniture restoration, Louis XVI style
Ebénisterie Mathieu VATH

Here are some photos of the restoration of a solid walnut commode, veneered with thuya burl inlay and 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 transitional style but from the Louis XVI period. In the title, I wrote "in the style of the Hache family" because it is certain that this commode originated in the Dauphiné region. But whether it is a product of the famous […]

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