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Lot Essay
Charles Topino, maître in 1773.
Nicolas Petit, maître in 1761.
This elegant commode demonstrates an interesting aspect of the French furniture trade of the 18th Century, whereby furniture is stamped by a dealer and not the maker which is generally the case. In this case, the commode is stamped by Nicolas Petit, however, in his capacity as a marchand, rather than ébéniste. With its characteristic ormolu mounts and delicately orchestrated floral marquetry, this commode is characteristic of the oeuvre of Charles Topino (d. 1803), who not only supplied furniture to Petit but also to Dautriche, Denizot and Hericourt.
The present example is closely related to two commodes with double vase mounts very typical of Topino's work of the 1770s. These were sold from the Champalimaud collection, Christie's, London, 6 July 2005, lots 25-26. A further example, again with Topino's signature mount to the lower drawer, and sharing various other mounts and the overall shape with the present commode, is illustrated in S. Barbier Sainte Marie, Charles Topino, Paris, 2005, p. 44.
Nicolas Petit, maître in 1761.
This elegant commode demonstrates an interesting aspect of the French furniture trade of the 18th Century, whereby furniture is stamped by a dealer and not the maker which is generally the case. In this case, the commode is stamped by Nicolas Petit, however, in his capacity as a marchand, rather than ébéniste. With its characteristic ormolu mounts and delicately orchestrated floral marquetry, this commode is characteristic of the oeuvre of Charles Topino (d. 1803), who not only supplied furniture to Petit but also to Dautriche, Denizot and Hericourt.
The present example is closely related to two commodes with double vase mounts very typical of Topino's work of the 1770s. These were sold from the Champalimaud collection, Christie's, London, 6 July 2005, lots 25-26. A further example, again with Topino's signature mount to the lower drawer, and sharing various other mounts and the overall shape with the present commode, is illustrated in S. Barbier Sainte Marie, Charles Topino, Paris, 2005, p. 44.