.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Matthäus Funk (1697-1783) was one of the most celebrated cabinet-makers from the German speaking regions. In 1706 his family moved from Frankfurt to Bern, Switzerland. With his two brothers, Johann Friedrich a carver and sculptor and Daniel Beat Ludwig, a watchmaker, he established an atelier which soon became a large and successful workshop in Bern. It is assumed that together they manufactured entire interiors. The commodes offered here are characteristic of Funk's most popular mid-18th century commode model. They were sought after by wealthy Swiss clientele as they resembled in shape examples produced in France under the reign of Louis XV, and at the same time retained a strong German influence.
Comparable models are known and can be found in H. von Fischer, FONCK A BERNE, Möbel und Ausstattungen der Kunsthandwerkfamilie Funk im 18 Jahrhundert in Bern, 2001, pp. 44-46, nos. 44-49 and pp. 97-99, nos. 153-154, 158-161 and 170-174.
Commodes attributed to Matthäus Funk with almost identical mounts and of a similar design were sold at Schloss Herblingen, Christie's Geneva, 14-18 September 1998 (Sfr 26,680); and from the collections of the late Baron Fould Springer and Ceclie de Rothschild, Christie's Paris, 11 March 2003, lot 173 (Eur 35,250). A further example was sold at Sotheby's Zürich, 5 June 1996, lot 208 (Sfr 91,800).
Comparable models are known and can be found in H. von Fischer, FONCK A BERNE, Möbel und Ausstattungen der Kunsthandwerkfamilie Funk im 18 Jahrhundert in Bern, 2001, pp. 44-46, nos. 44-49 and pp. 97-99, nos. 153-154, 158-161 and 170-174.
Commodes attributed to Matthäus Funk with almost identical mounts and of a similar design were sold at Schloss Herblingen, Christie's Geneva, 14-18 September 1998 (Sfr 26,680); and from the collections of the late Baron Fould Springer and Ceclie de Rothschild, Christie's Paris, 11 March 2003, lot 173 (Eur 35,250). A further example was sold at Sotheby's Zürich, 5 June 1996, lot 208 (Sfr 91,800).