A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED BURR YEW AND AMARANTH COMMODE

CIRCA 1775

Details

A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED BURR YEW AND AMARANTH COMMODE
Circa 1775
The rectangular shaped and molded grey-veined white marble top above one long and two short frieze drawers mounted with entrelacs enclosing paterae within husk wreaths, above two long drawers mounted sans traverse with a leaf-tip-cast surround and with ribbon-tied wreath-cast escutcheons flanked by fluted corners headed by paterae, with egg-and-dart skirt, on turned tapering legs headed by gadrooned collars with foliate-cast feet
30½in. (77.5cm.) high, 78in. (122.5cm.) wide, 24in. (61cm.) deep

Lot Essay

This striking commode, with its unusual use of plain expanses of richly figured yew wood in combination with finely chased, boldly scaled neoclassical mounts, relates to a secretaire reputedly supplied to Mme du Barry by the little-known ébéniste Philippe Pasquier (illustrated C. Packer, Paris Furniture, Newport, 1956, fig. 138). The Pasquier secretaire also has virtually identical feet with acanthus-cast sabots and gadrooned headings. Pasquier, who received his maîtrise in 1760, also worked for the prince de Condé. A plainer commode by Pasquier, also veneered in yew wood, is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe Siècle, Paris, 1989, p.635.