Lot Essay
This secrétaire incorporates several decorative features which appear in the oeuvre of Bernard Molitor (d. 1833).
Molitor frequently used richly figured veneers, for this secrétaire creating simulated panels by using the grains of the wood. A similarly veneered commode, stamped by Molitor, with bronze mounts possibly by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, is illustrated in U. Leben, Bernard Molitor 1755-1833, Luxembourg, 1995, p. 71, cat. no. 41.
The tapering pilasters which are surmounted by herm capitals with distict braided head-dress feature on a related commode and secrétaire, both attributed to Molitor, which are illustrated in U. Leben, ibid, pp. 94 and 95, cat. nos. 38 and 39.
Entwined vine, similar to the mount on the doors, is wrapped around the columns of a secrétaire and a commode, reputedly made for Mesdames at Bellevue, which are illustrated in A. Pradère French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, pp. 426-427, figs. 526-527.
Interestingly, Charles-Joseph Lemarchand (d.1826) used a similar decorative vocubulary to Molitor. Identical herm capitals to the ones that appear on the present lot and on the above mentioned secrétaire and commode, embellish a bonheur-du-jour stamped by Lemarchand (D. Ledoux-Leband Le Mobilier Français du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1989, pp. 412-413).
Molitor frequently used richly figured veneers, for this secrétaire creating simulated panels by using the grains of the wood. A similarly veneered commode, stamped by Molitor, with bronze mounts possibly by Pierre-Philippe Thomire, is illustrated in U. Leben, Bernard Molitor 1755-1833, Luxembourg, 1995, p. 71, cat. no. 41.
The tapering pilasters which are surmounted by herm capitals with distict braided head-dress feature on a related commode and secrétaire, both attributed to Molitor, which are illustrated in U. Leben, ibid, pp. 94 and 95, cat. nos. 38 and 39.
Entwined vine, similar to the mount on the doors, is wrapped around the columns of a secrétaire and a commode, reputedly made for Mesdames at Bellevue, which are illustrated in A. Pradère French Furniture Makers, Paris, 1989, pp. 426-427, figs. 526-527.
Interestingly, Charles-Joseph Lemarchand (d.1826) used a similar decorative vocubulary to Molitor. Identical herm capitals to the ones that appear on the present lot and on the above mentioned secrétaire and commode, embellish a bonheur-du-jour stamped by Lemarchand (D. Ledoux-Leband Le Mobilier Français du XIXe Siècle, Paris, 1989, pp. 412-413).