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Lot Essay
Pierre Roussel, maître in 1745.
This elegant commode is embellished with illusionistic cube parquetry, which is characteristic of the oeuvre of Pierre Roussel (1723-1782). It is very closely related to other examples by Roussel which share the same slightly breakfront shape as well as the parquetry pattern. These include a commode sold Christie's, London, 29 June 1954, lot 90; another sold Sotheby's, Zurich, 5 June 1996, lot 179 and a further example Christie's, London, 29 March 1979, lot 109.
Interestingly, similar patterns figure on commodes stamped by other ébénistes, including Jacques Laurent Cosson and Léonard Boudin, who was acting probably as a marchand ébéniste (see P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 2002, p.105).
Although he produced a few lacquered pieces, Pierre Roussel concentrated mainly on pieces decorated with fine marquetry for which he became particularly well known. In the 1769 Almanach de vray mérite, he is quoted as one of the foremost ébénistes of Paris. One of his biggest patrons was the prince de Condé for whom he supplied furniture for the Palais Bourbon and the château de Chantilly.
This elegant commode is embellished with illusionistic cube parquetry, which is characteristic of the oeuvre of Pierre Roussel (1723-1782). It is very closely related to other examples by Roussel which share the same slightly breakfront shape as well as the parquetry pattern. These include a commode sold Christie's, London, 29 June 1954, lot 90; another sold Sotheby's, Zurich, 5 June 1996, lot 179 and a further example Christie's, London, 29 March 1979, lot 109.
Interestingly, similar patterns figure on commodes stamped by other ébénistes, including Jacques Laurent Cosson and Léonard Boudin, who was acting probably as a marchand ébéniste (see P. Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 2002, p.105).
Although he produced a few lacquered pieces, Pierre Roussel concentrated mainly on pieces decorated with fine marquetry for which he became particularly well known. In the 1769 Almanach de vray mérite, he is quoted as one of the foremost ébénistes of Paris. One of his biggest patrons was the prince de Condé for whom he supplied furniture for the Palais Bourbon and the château de Chantilly.