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Lot Essay
The similarity of the parcel-gilt relief decoration of this elegant commode to the boiseries of the Elector's rooms at Munich Residenz suggests that this piece could have been made by the Munich Court cabinet-maker and 'Zierratschnitzer' (decoration carver) Johann Adam Schmidt.
Max III Joseph had re-employed the celebrated François Cuvilliés, who had already worked for his father decorating the rooms of the residence after a fire had destroyed them in December 1729, and it was under Cuvilliés direction that Schmidt produced the handsome low-relief boiserie panels in the private apartments with parcel-gilt highlights on an ivory-coloured ground (H. Kreisel, G. Himmelheber, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, Munich, 1970, vol. II, p. 176, ill. 442, 444). A pair of commodes with similarly shaped aprons and scroll feet is exhibited at Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich (B. Langer, Die Möbel der Schlösser Nymphenburg und Schleissheim, Munich, 2000, cat. 48, p. 158).
The beautiful fossile Tegernsee Marmor used for the top was first quarried in Klostergrund near Kreuth at the Tegernsee in 1680, and the altar of the church of St. Quirinius in the town of Tegernsee was made of this local stone.
Max III Joseph had re-employed the celebrated François Cuvilliés, who had already worked for his father decorating the rooms of the residence after a fire had destroyed them in December 1729, and it was under Cuvilliés direction that Schmidt produced the handsome low-relief boiserie panels in the private apartments with parcel-gilt highlights on an ivory-coloured ground (H. Kreisel, G. Himmelheber, Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels, Munich, 1970, vol. II, p. 176, ill. 442, 444). A pair of commodes with similarly shaped aprons and scroll feet is exhibited at Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich (B. Langer, Die Möbel der Schlösser Nymphenburg und Schleissheim, Munich, 2000, cat. 48, p. 158).
The beautiful fossile Tegernsee Marmor used for the top was first quarried in Klostergrund near Kreuth at the Tegernsee in 1680, and the altar of the church of St. Quirinius in the town of Tegernsee was made of this local stone.