Late 19th C French Louis XV Style Breche D Alep Marble Top Commode

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French Louis XV-Style Marble-Top Kingwood Commode with Gilt-Bronze Mounts
A particularly elegant and richly appointed French Louis XV-style commode, dating … Read more French Louis XV-Style Marble-Top Kingwood Commode with Gilt-Bronze Mounts
A particularly elegant and richly appointed French Louis XV-style commode, dating from the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, finely veneered in kingwood and other richly figured woods and surmounted by a beautifully shaped marble top. Distinguished by its pronounced bombé form, extensive gilt-bronze mounts and wonderfully fluid Rococo proportions, this handsome two-drawer commode is a sophisticated interpretation of the celebrated furniture produced in Paris during the reign of Louis XV.
The commode is crowned by a substantial shaped marble top, carefully cut to follow the serpentine contours of the cabinet beneath. The marble displays an attractive mixture of warm cream, ochre, rose, salmon and reddish tones, with naturally mottled figuring throughout. Its moulded edge projects slightly beyond the case, giving definition to the silhouette while providing a luxurious contrast to the deep reddish-brown coloration of the veneers.
The cabinet itself has the beautifully swelling bombé profile so strongly associated with eighteenth-century French Rococo furniture. Both the front and sides curve outward before flowing inward toward the slender legs, creating a continuous sense of movement. There are virtually no severe architectural lines; instead, every element has been conceived to contribute to the graceful, sculptural character of the piece.
The front incorporates two broad drawers, cleverly integrated into the curving façade. The veneers have been laid diagonally and arranged in opposing directions to create a dramatic chevron or book-matched effect. This careful placement of the grain is especially effective across the center of the drawers, where the veneers meet in a strong vertical axis. The rich reddish and chocolate-brown tones vary beautifully according to the light, emphasizing the depth and movement of the cabinet.
An extensive arrangement of gilt-bronze mounts provides the principal decorative ornament. Fine bronze mouldings trace the perimeter of the drawer fronts in a flowing, asymmetrical Rococo manner, following every curve of the cabinet. Rather than appearing applied as separate decoration, these mounts seem almost to draw the shape of the commode, emphasizing its serpentine outline and giving the façade an exceptionally finished appearance.
At the center of the upper drawer is an elaborate gilt-bronze escutcheon composed of scrolling foliage, flowers and interlacing Rocaille ornament. The mount descends vertically from the upper edge, forming a particularly attractive focal point against the warm veneered background. A related decorative bronze mount ornaments the center of the lower apron.
Each drawer is fitted with a pair of finely cast gilt-bronze handles, conceived as scrolling foliate branches with delicately modelled leaves. Their sinuous form is entirely in keeping with the Louis XV vocabulary and provides both a practical and decorative function. The golden surfaces of the bronze contrast particularly well with the dark, richly figured timber.
The sides of the commode continue the luxurious treatment of the façade. Large gilt-bronze corner mounts descend from immediately beneath the marble top, incorporating elaborate acanthus leaves, scrolling foliage and Rococo ornament. These mounts extend down the curved angles of the case, visually connecting the upper cabinet with the legs below.
The commode stands upon four graceful cabriole legs, the front pair flowing almost uninterrupted from the bombé case. Gilt-bronze mounts accentuate their outer edges, terminating in finely modelled foliate sabots at the feet. This combination of curved timber and gilded metal creates a sense of delicacy that belies the substantial construction of the cabinet.
Stylistically, the commode belongs to the great tradition of Louis XV and Rococo Revival furniture. During the later nineteenth century, particularly under the Second Empire and Belle Époque, French cabinetmakers returned enthusiastically to the masterpieces of eighteenth-century Parisian ébénisterie. High-quality revival pieces were frequently executed in kingwood, rosewood, mahogany and other decorative veneers, complemented by marble tops and finely cast gilt-bronze mounts.
The present commode demonstrates many of the characteristics that made the Louis XV form so enduringly desirable: the bombé case, serpentine front, cabriole legs, richly figured veneers, exuberant Rocaille mounts and luxurious marble top all work together as a unified decorative composition.
Its relatively compact two-drawer configuration makes the piece especially versatile. It could serve traditionally as a commode or chest of drawers, but would be equally impressive beneath a mirror, between windows, in an entrance hall or as a substantial bedside or salon cabinet. The broad marble surface also provides an ideal platform for a pair of candlesticks, porcelain, sculpture or other decorative objects.
With its beautifully figured veneers, warm and dramatically mottled marble, finely modelled gilt-bronze hardware and exceptionally graceful proportions, this French Louis XV-style commode possesses considerable decorative presence. It is a fine example of the late nineteenth- to early twentieth-century French revival of eighteenth-century cabinetmaking, successfully combining practical storage with the luxurious materials and animated sculptural character that define the Rococo tradition.


Dimensions: 35.5 inches high x 43 inches wide x 20.75 inches deep See less