19th Century French Louis XV Miniature Commode or Salesman’s Sample With Marble

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A charming and remarkably detailed 19th-century French miniature commode, or chest of drawers, made in the Louis XV taste and … Read more A charming and remarkably detailed 19th-century French miniature commode, or chest of drawers, made in the Louis XV taste and quite possibly created as a salesman’s sample or cabinetmaker’s model. Measuring only 13 inches wide by 8 inches high by 5.5 inches deep, the piece reproduces on a diminutive scale many of the features found on full-size French commodes of the period, making it both an appealing decorative object and a fascinating example of the cabinetmaker’s art.

The miniature chest has a beautifully shaped, bombe-form case with three graduated drawers and a serpentine front. The exterior is veneered in warm-toned woods arranged in decorative geometric patterns, including parquetry-style panels on the sides and contrasting inlaid borders across the drawer fronts. The workmanship is especially impressive considering the cabinet's small scale.

Miniature pieces of furniture such as this are often referred to as salesman’s samples. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, furniture manufacturers and cabinetmakers sometimes produced reduced-scale examples that could demonstrate a design and the quality of workmanship without the difficulty of transporting a full-size piece. Other miniatures were produced as cabinetmakers’ models, presentation pieces, or demonstrations of craftsmanship. Whatever its original purpose, examples of this quality are today collected in their own right.

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