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Lot Essay
Guillaume Kemp, maître in 1764.
With its beautifully executed trompe l'oeil marquetry, giving an impression of plush drapery to the panels of its slightly breakfront façade, this commode is one of only three known examples of this type, with one - possibly the pair to this commode - formerly in the celebrated Espirito Santo collection in Portugal (subsequently sold, Ader-Picard-Tajan, Paris, 14 June 1977, lot 125) and another with Galerie Gismondi, Paris (illustrated P. Kjellberg, le Mobilier Français du XVIIIè siècle, Paris, 2002, p. 505). While the three commodes differ in their mounts they all share the distinctive ribbon-tied medallion that hangs on the striped background, a design that was almost certainly inspired by the pattern of military campaign tents.
With its beautifully executed trompe l'oeil marquetry, giving an impression of plush drapery to the panels of its slightly breakfront façade, this commode is one of only three known examples of this type, with one - possibly the pair to this commode - formerly in the celebrated Espirito Santo collection in Portugal (subsequently sold, Ader-Picard-Tajan, Paris, 14 June 1977, lot 125) and another with Galerie Gismondi, Paris (illustrated P. Kjellberg, le Mobilier Français du XVIIIè siècle, Paris, 2002, p. 505). While the three commodes differ in their mounts they all share the distinctive ribbon-tied medallion that hangs on the striped background, a design that was almost certainly inspired by the pattern of military campaign tents.