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Lot Essay
Pierre Roussel, matre in 1745.
Established in the rue de Charenton at L'Image de St. Pierre, Roussel was one of the most prolific bnistes of the period, his atelier continuing after his death in 1782 up until 1792-5. He was particularly renowned for his use of naturalistic floral marquetry, as on this commode and the example offered as lot 34, often enhanced with vigorous engraving to increase the illusionistic effect. Closely related C-scroll encadrements are employed on two almost identical spectacular large scale floral marquetry commodes by Roussel, one sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30 April 1999, lot 180 ($220,000), and one from the collection of S. Chalom, illustrated in P. Verlet, Les Ebnistes du XVIIIe Sicle Franais, Paris, 1963, p. 131.
Established in the rue de Charenton at L'Image de St. Pierre, Roussel was one of the most prolific bnistes of the period, his atelier continuing after his death in 1782 up until 1792-5. He was particularly renowned for his use of naturalistic floral marquetry, as on this commode and the example offered as lot 34, often enhanced with vigorous engraving to increase the illusionistic effect. Closely related C-scroll encadrements are employed on two almost identical spectacular large scale floral marquetry commodes by Roussel, one sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's New York, 30 April 1999, lot 180 ($220,000), and one from the collection of S. Chalom, illustrated in P. Verlet, Les Ebnistes du XVIIIe Sicle Franais, Paris, 1963, p. 131.