Louis XVI Top Monted Chest with Marquetry, 1780s

Details

Description

Louis xvi top-mounted furniture in patina condition

germany (saxonia)
satinwood, mahogany and others
louis xvi around 1780

dimensions: h x … Read more Louis xvi top-mounted furniture in patina condition

germany (saxonia)
satinwood, mahogany and others
louis xvi around 1780

dimensions: h x w x d: 203 x 124 x 63 cm

description:
chest of drawers on ball feet with corner pilaster strips and a wide risalit typical of the period.
we see three large drawers at the bottom, which are combined into a single unit by overlapping marquetry panels. The lock on the centre drawer also locks the top drawer.
above this, framed by slightly protruding mouldings, are three small drawers and a tableau pull-out with a carved wavy frieze.

the strongly recessed top has a drawer under the two-door cupboard compartment and a dominant, widely projecting cornice.
the drawer can be locked from the inside of the cabinet.

the large satinwood panels give the piece of furniture its unmistakable character. The highly iridescent, flame-like grain patterns are laid symmetrically. Framed by significantly darker mahogany wood and bordered by thread inlays, the veneer surfaces are presented like a work of art.
the fine inlays, which are laid in various ways through light and dark contrasting woods, are also impressive. We see triangular and toothed friezes as well as three-dimensional marquetry below the door panels.

condition:
restored condition with complete preservation of the patina. The original appearance has been preserved and the piece of furniture is well prepared for the decades to come. Signs of age and use have been deliberately preserved and the old shellac polish has been gently cleaned and refreshed.
in the course of the restoration, the loose veneers were stabilised and cracks and larger irregularities were closed. The drawers run cleanly and smoothly, all the interiors have been cleaned and primed with shellac.

personal comment:
the question of the right degree of restoration, of preserving what is worth keeping, of conserving or removing signs of age and wear is one that divides the antiques industry time and again.
some like their finely restored pieces of furniture, which are in top condition and function perfectly, while others love the charm of the used and interpret signs of wear as an important feature of the antique and as a sign of age and authenticity.

the truly original condition of an antique piece of furniture only existed when it left its maker's workshop 100, 200 or even more years ago. And at that time it was certainly without patina.
from then on, the patina began to grow. The furniture was used, drawers were opened and closed, doors were slammed, table tops were wiped again and again. And that over decades. Over all these years, not only tensile, compressive and frictional forces had an effect, but also temperature fluctuations, changes in humidity and sunlight. Leather surfaces and fire gilding wore away, veneers came loose and all wood moved with the rhythm of the seasons.

my personal opinion is that every scratch, every discolouration and every flaw tells its own story and bears witness to age and authenticity.
signs of age and wear shape the character of a piece of furniture and give it a certain charm. They always encourage you to realise how old the piece of furniture is and what it has already experienced.

the condition of a decades-old patina only exists once. Once the patina has been "restored away", it remains "restored away".
it then has to be created from scratch, because you can't create a real patina with any stain in the world - a real patina takes time. It has to grow and flourish over decades and centuries. See less