Lot Essay
FRENCH MARQUETRY FURNITURE WAS MUCH APPRECIATED IN THE NETHERLANDS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE 18TH CENTURY. IT WAS IN FACT IN SUCH DEMAND THAT THE LOCAL FURNITURE GUILD IN AMSTERDAM AND THE HAGUE COMPLAINED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CITY COUNCILS ABOUT THE INFLUX OF FURNITURE IMPORTED FROM ABROAD.
THE PRESENT COMMODE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INCENTIVE OF LOCAL FURNITURE MAKERS TO PRODUCE MARQUETRY FURNITURE IN THE FRENCH TASTE, WHICH COMMENCED IN THE 1760S. HOWEVER, THE CHARACTERISTIC BOMBé SHAPE, THE OAK CONSTRUCTION AND THE USE OF ORMOLU MOUNTS, USUALLY IMPORTED FROM ENGLAND, DISTINGUISH THE DUTCH COMMODES FROM THEIR FRENCH COUNTERPARTS.
SEE ILLUSTRATION
THE PRESENT COMMODE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE INCENTIVE OF LOCAL FURNITURE MAKERS TO PRODUCE MARQUETRY FURNITURE IN THE FRENCH TASTE, WHICH COMMENCED IN THE 1760S. HOWEVER, THE CHARACTERISTIC BOMBé SHAPE, THE OAK CONSTRUCTION AND THE USE OF ORMOLU MOUNTS, USUALLY IMPORTED FROM ENGLAND, DISTINGUISH THE DUTCH COMMODES FROM THEIR FRENCH COUNTERPARTS.
SEE ILLUSTRATION