AFTER THE MODEL DESIGNED BY THE SLODTZ BROTHERS AND EXECUTED BY ANTOINE GAUDREAUX, LATE 19TH CENTURY

Details

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD AND KINGWOOD PARQUETRY COMMODE A VANTAUX
AFTER THE MODEL DESIGNED BY THE SLODTZ BROTHERS AND EXECUTED BY ANTOINE GAUDREAUX, LATE 19TH CENTURY
The serpentine violet breccia marble top above a conforming case set with two cupboard doors each decorated with lozenge parquetry and centred by a blue oval medallion and ribbon-tied floral frame, the interior fitted with four drawers, on scrolled legs
37 ¾ in. (96 cm.) high, 68 in. (172.5 cm.) wide, 26 ¼ in. (66.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

Property from a Private European Collection; Christie's, 22 September 2007, lot 91.

Special notice

Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country. Specified lots (sold and unsold) marked with a filled square not collected from Christie’s by 5.00 pm on the day of the sale will, at our option, be removed to Cadogan Tate. Christie’s will inform you if the lot has been sent offsite. Our removal and storage of the lot is subject to the terms and conditions of storage which can be found at Christies.com/storage. Please call Christie’s Client Service 24 hours in advance to book a collection time at Cadogan Tate Ltd. All collections will be by pre-booked appointment only. Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 9060 Email: cscollectionsuk@christies.com. If the lot remains at Christie’s it will be available for collection on any working day 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Lots are not available for collection at weekends.

Brought to you by

Dido Penny

dpenny@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2794

Lot Essay

This commode is based on the commode médallier by Antoine Gaudreaux (d. 1746), so called because it contained a set of the famous series of medals known as the medallic history of Louis XIV and Louis XV which included portraits of the leading crowned heads of Europe and to which medals of the most beautiful buildings of the reign of Louis XV were later added. It was delivered on 10 January 1739 for the Cabinet aux tableaux in Louis XV's new apartments at Versailles. It was referred to at the time as 'Par les Srs Gaudreaux ébéniste et Slodtz frères, sculpteurs, pour servir dans le cabinet aux tableaux avant la petite galerie à Versailles'. In 1755 a matching pair of encoignures were made by Gilles Joubert (d. 1775) which were removed with the commode médallier by the order of Louis XVI and placed in the Medal Department of the Royal Library. However in 1960 the suite returned to Versailles where it remains on display.

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