A French Empire Style Commode With Marble Top and Gilt Mounts, Circa 1900

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An elegant chest of drawers, dating to circa 1900, this French commode has been hand-carved in the Empire style, influenced … Read more An elegant chest of drawers, dating to circa 1900, this French commode has been hand-carved in the Empire style, influenced by ancient civilizations, such as Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Notice the Neoclassical aesthetics of the main body, which include an estipite (inverted obelisk) on each side of the bottom three drawers. The estipites form elongated torsos to a woman, as noted by the gilded bust and feet above and below the pilasters. A robust apron with several thin layers of molding spans the bottom of the commode, above two large monopodial paw feet in the front and modified blocks in the back, all ebonized.

The three main drawers are slightly recessed when compared to the estipite. Each drawer is adorned with two lion mascaron pulls that flank circular escutcheons comprised of cornucopias, rosettes, and laurel wreaths, which are all motifs commonly used in Empire-style furniture. A seamless top drawer, hidden in the frieze, overhangs the entire façade. It is graced with a gilt bronze mount of two swans with foliate rinceaux tails, supporting an escutcheon formed by draped linen with a pinecone finial and a crinkled ribbon. Above the top drawer is a one-and-a-quarter-inch mottled Ardennes gray marble top with black, white, and ochre veining. The wood has a honey brown color that features mesmerizing burl patterns, making this an attractive option for any room that needs case storage. See less