{"id":13902,"date":"2026-11-05T21:44:41","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:44:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr\/?p=13902"},"modified":"2026-11-05T21:44:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:44:44","slug":"commode-transition-stumpff-medaille-or-maf-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebenisterie-mathieuvath.fr\/en\/2026\/11\/05\/commode-transition-stumpff-medaille-or-maf-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Transition Stumpff Chest of Drawers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Restoration of a Transition Stumpff dresser<\/strong> veneered in rosewood and amaranth. Rapha\u00ebl, our apprentice, carried out this project for the 41st "One of the Best Apprentices of France" competition. This work earned him the national gold medal in the antique furniture restoration category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This thesis is the result of three years of apprenticeship in the workshop. For several months, Rapha\u00ebl worked alone, one to two hours a day in the evenings. In total, he devoted more than a hundred hours to this chest of drawers, in addition to his daily work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A gold medal at the MAF 2026 competition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The competition One of the Best Apprentices of France<\/a> It rewards young people training in manual trades each year. Furthermore, the 2026 session is named after the Michel Bellanger class. Candidates will present a project and a written report to a jury of professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rapha\u00ebl was no stranger to success. In fact, during his first year of vocational training, he had already won the departmental bronze medal. The judges had encouraged him to try again. He vowed to do even better: a promise kept, with a gold medal at the national level. You can also discover his previous major project in the workshop., a <\/a>pair<\/a> Louis XV chests of drawers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Stamped J.STUMPFF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jean-Chrysostome Stumpff (1731-1806)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jean-Chrysostome Stumpff was born in 1731 in Schweigern, Swabia. Like many German cabinetmakers of the 18th century, he later settled in Paris. A Protestant, he married in 1760 in the chapel of the Swedish embassy. His colleague Ferdinand Schwerdfeger served as his witness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially a favored craftsman in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, he later opened his own workshop on Rue Saint-Nicolas. Stumpff worked there throughout his career. On August 27, 1766, he earned his master craftsman's certificate. He remained active at least until 1791 and finally died on January 17, 1806.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stumpff primarily produced Transition and Louis XVI style furniture. His notable works include commodes with projecting fronts, drop-front secretaries, corner cabinets, and flat desks. His rosewood veneers often take the form of butterfly wings or chevrons. Furthermore, the cabinetmaker frequently framed his panels with amaranth and Greek key patterns. Finally, he also created trompe-l'\u0153il cube marquetry and trophy panels.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Chest of drawers, front view, restoration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A Transition period chest of drawers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Transition style flourished between approximately 1755 and 1775. It arose from a weariness with the excesses of the Rococo style. At the same time, the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii revived interest in Antiquity. The "Greek taste" then took hold in Paris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The furniture straightens its lines, but the legs remain curved. This hybrid silhouette thus characterizes the period: a straight body resting on Louis XV curves. Our chest of drawers offers a fine example. Its slightly curved legs recall the Louis XV style, while its straight panels already foreshadow the Louis XVI style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A rosewood frieze in a butterfly pattern adorns the entire commode. In addition, Greek key-style stringing in amaranth and boxwood frames each panel. It opens with two drawers without a visible crossbar; the lower drawer incorporates the apron. Gilt bronze mounts embellish the whole: drawer pulls, ribbon keyhole escutcheons, beaded acanthus leaves, and sabots. Finally, a Sarrancolin marble top crowns the piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The style places the commode between 1750 and 1774. However, Stumpff received his mastership in 1766: it can therefore be dated between 1766 and 1774. It measures 802 mm high, 915 mm wide and 460 mm deep, without the marble top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bibliography<\/h2>\n\n\n\n