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Lot Essay
The present commode is a copy of the celebrated pair supplied by Jean-Henri Riesener (maître 1768; d. 1806) in 1786 for the Salon des Nobles de la Reine at Versailles. Furnished until 1785 with Louis XIV's original decor, the room was completely refurbished by Marie-Antoinette, the painted ceiling by Michel Corneille being the only original decoration to remain. The marble walls were replaced with gilt dado panels hung with apple-green silk, whilst the marquetry commodes were substituted with the two by Riesener, together with a pair of matching encoignures.
Another example of this commode, also stamped by Zwiener and the decorator and retailer F. Jansen, and from the collection of Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar, was sold Christie's Amsterdam, Kasteel de Haar, 13 October 1998, lot 40 ($57,000).
Another example of this commode, also stamped by Zwiener and the decorator and retailer F. Jansen, and from the collection of Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar, was sold Christie's Amsterdam, Kasteel de Haar, 13 October 1998, lot 40 ($57,000).