19th C French Directoire Brass Mounted Louis XVI Slate Top Commode

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Description

This handsome French Louis XVI–Directoire Revival commode, dating from approximately 1890–1920, is distinguished by its beautifully contrasting woods, restrained neoclassical … Read more This handsome French Louis XVI–Directoire Revival commode, dating from approximately 1890–1920, is distinguished by its beautifully contrasting woods, restrained neoclassical architecture, brass ornament, and substantial dark slate top. The design looks deliberately back to the elegant furniture of late eighteenth-century France, while its strong proportions and graphic contrasts give it the decorative presence associated with sophisticated French revival furniture made around the turn of the twentieth century.

The commode is surmounted by a broad rectangular slab of dark charcoal-black slate, its matte, subtly variegated surface providing a dramatic counterpoint to the warm golden coloration of the cabinet below. The top projects slightly beyond the case, giving the piece a crisp architectural silhouette.

The façade is arranged with three smaller drawers across the upper register and two broad drawers beneath. The primary wood appears to be satinwood or a similarly light, finely grained decorative timber, exhibiting warm shades of honey, amber, and golden brown. This is dramatically framed by dark ebonized banding, producing a sophisticated light-and-dark effect. Satinwood combined with contrasting ebony or ebonized details was well established in neoclassical cabinetmaking and remained popular in high-quality revival furniture of the nineteenth century.

The upper drawers are particularly attractive. Each is enclosed within dark geometric borders accented with fine metal lines. The two outer drawers are fitted with rectangular brass bail handles and circular neoclassical backplates, while the center drawer incorporates a prominent escutcheon. At either end of the upper register are narrow dark panels decorated with a vertical procession of inlaid or applied stars, an unusual and charming detail that adds considerable individuality.

Below are two generously proportioned long drawers, each framed by broad ebonized borders and fitted with paired brass handles and a central circular escutcheon. Their relatively unadorned golden surfaces allow the natural grain of the timber to become part of the decoration.

Flanking the lower case are vertically fluted pilasters, reinforcing the architectural character of the commode. The cabinet stands upon four slender, tapering turned legs, the front pair clearly visible with restrained ring turning and brass collars and feet. This vocabulary of fluting, tapered supports, geometric drawer arrangements, brass ornament, and restrained classical symmetry is closely associated with the Louis XVI and subsequent Directoire traditions. Directoire furniture, in particular, continued Louis XVI neoclassicism while generally simplifying its decoration and emphasizing clean architectural forms.

French cabinetmakers of the late nineteenth century frequently revived these earlier styles. Comparable French commodes from the period combine dark contrasting finishes, brass moldings, fluted architectural elements, metal hardware, and stone tops.

What makes this example especially appealing is the balance between warm satinwood, nearly black ebonized detailing, golden brass hardware, and the sober slate top. The result is formal without appearing overly ornate and decorative without sacrificing the disciplined geometry of its neoclassical inspiration.

Consistent with its age, the commode presents with expected evidence of use, including minor surface marks, scratches, finish variation, small areas of rubbing, and age-related imperfections to the wood and ebonized surfaces. Such characteristics contribute to the established appearance of a piece now approximately a century old.

Overall, this is an unusually attractive French neoclassical revival commode, combining practical storage with elegant proportions and a particularly handsome palette of golden timber, dark ebonized borders, brass accents, and slate. Its understated grandeur would make it equally successful in a traditional European interior or as a strong architectural statement within a more contemporary setting.


Dimensions: 35.75 inches high x 51 inches wide x 23.25 inches deep See less