Lot Essay
François Lieutaud, flourishing circa 1700-48
François Lieutaud, born in Marseille, father of the ébéniste Charles Lieutaud, and grandfather of the celebrated ébéniste Balthazar Lieutaud, maître in 1749. Although the stamp F.L. is now firmly attributed to François Lieutaud, little is known about him although he is known to have had links with A.-C. Boulle who cited him as an expert witness during legal proceedings in 1719. Lieutaud is known to have cast his own bronzes for his furniture.
A very similar commode in the Louvre, Paris, is illustrated H. Hayward, World Furniture, London, 1965, p. 111, fig. 387. Other pieces also stamped F.L. include a Regence three drawer commode illustrated A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, London, 1989, p. 118, fig. 73, a commode from the collection of Mrs. Anna Thomson Dodge, sold in these Rooms, 24 June 1971, lot 105, and a bureau plat at Waddesdon Manor, illustrated G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and Gilt Bronzes, vol. I, 1974, No. 86.
François Lieutaud, born in Marseille, father of the ébéniste Charles Lieutaud, and grandfather of the celebrated ébéniste Balthazar Lieutaud, maître in 1749. Although the stamp F.L. is now firmly attributed to François Lieutaud, little is known about him although he is known to have had links with A.-C. Boulle who cited him as an expert witness during legal proceedings in 1719. Lieutaud is known to have cast his own bronzes for his furniture.
A very similar commode in the Louvre, Paris, is illustrated H. Hayward, World Furniture, London, 1965, p. 111, fig. 387. Other pieces also stamped F.L. include a Regence three drawer commode illustrated A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, London, 1989, p. 118, fig. 73, a commode from the collection of Mrs. Anna Thomson Dodge, sold in these Rooms, 24 June 1971, lot 105, and a bureau plat at Waddesdon Manor, illustrated G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, Furniture, Clocks and Gilt Bronzes, vol. I, 1974, No. 86.