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Lot Essay
The elegant masks which run down the center of this commode relate to the commode stamped N. Sageot from Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire which was sold annonymously at Christie's London, 16 December 1999, lot 50. Nicolas Sageot (1666-1731) achieved his maîtrise in 1706, basing himself in the Faubourg Saint-Antione. It is possible however, that Sageot, an active marchand, was the retailer for these distinctive commodes rather than the actual maker. This is indicated by the existence of two further commodes of the form of the commode sold in London, both stamped with the initials 'AG' (one sold Etude Tajan, Paris, 25 June 1996, lot 183 and one sold from the property of a European Collector, Christie's New York, 21 October 1997, lot 31). The stamp 'AG' is almost certainly that of the ébéniste Aubertin Gaudron, who supplied the Garde-Meuble between 1686 and 1713, and it is quite possible that Sageot acted in the capacity of retailer for Gaudron. Records detailing some of his sales would further support this suggestion, as in 1720 he supplied the marchand-mercier Léonard Prieur with 16,000 livres worth of furniture and in the same year bois de menuiserie to Claude François de Maignat, a marchand de bois valued at 12,000 livres.
The designs of the inlaid panels on this commode are closely inspired by the arabesque engravings of Jean Bérain (d.1711) as published in the Oeuvre de Jean Bérain recueillies par les soins de sieur thuret of 1711. Related designs feature, for instance, a closely related commode sold annonymously at Christie's New York, 21 October 1997, lot 25 ($125,000 plus premium).
The designs of the inlaid panels on this commode are closely inspired by the arabesque engravings of Jean Bérain (d.1711) as published in the Oeuvre de Jean Bérain recueillies par les soins de sieur thuret of 1711. Related designs feature, for instance, a closely related commode sold annonymously at Christie's New York, 21 October 1997, lot 25 ($125,000 plus premium).