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Lot Essay
This sumptuous and colourful commode is attributed to the ébéniste Nicolas Sageot, a contemporary of ébéniste-du-Roi, André Charles Boulle. Sageot is celebrated for his excellence in a highly original polychrome variant of the 'Boulle' technique, with coloured and stained horn inlaid in brass and tortoiseshell surfaces. This splendid example also bears the stamp 'I DUBOIS', reflecting the enduring appeal of Boulle marquetry pieces throughout the 18th century; the Dubois workshop specialised in the restoration of Boulle marquetry and his stamp is recorded on a number of Boulle pieces in British collections.
With its distinctive bowed form and intricate boulle marquetry this commode belongs to a group of commodes attributed to Nicolas Sageot. Sageot had a thriving workshop on the rue du faubourg Saint-Antoine by 1698 and became a master in 1706. Documentary evidence indicates that he also operated as a marchand mercier. The attribution to Sageot is possible due to the presence of Sageot’s stamp, a rarity at this date, on a number of these commodes that all bear the hallmarks of the same workshop. These stamped commodes include a related commode sold in these rooms on 2 July 2024, lot 22 (£302,400) as well as a related commode in première-partie formerly in the collection of the Dukes of Newcastle, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire (sold Christie's, London, 16 December 1999, lot 50, £287,500). An unstamped commode from the Thyssen collection also in this group sold Christie's, London, 14 December 2000, lot 320, £168,750.
The superb design of the present commode, with its intricate filigree arabesques, abundance of polychrome flowers, and playful mask motifs is inspired by the work of Jean Bérain (1640-1711). Of exceptional quality, the top is closely related to the top of a Boulle marquetry bureau plat in the Wallace collection, London (inv. no. F60) with virtually identical marquetry and a roundel depicting the rabbit hunt scene in reverse to that on the top of this commode. The top of the Wallace Collection bureau plat is from an 18th century commode of similar date to the one offered here, readapted for use as the central portion of the top of the bureau plat in the mid-19th century.
The presence of the Dubois stamp on this commode indicates that it was restored or retailed later in the 18th century by either Jacques (1694-1763), maître 1742 or René Dubois (1737-1799), received maître 1755. Both Jacques and René used the I DUBOIS stamp and René’s workshop in particular specialised in the restoration of Boulle marquetry pieces, as evidenced by a side table attributed to Boulle and stamped I DUBOIS in the Wallace Collection (inv. no. F424) as well as a pair of Boulle marquetry cabinets stamped I DUBOIS at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire (inv. no. 2349.1-2).
A number of further Boulle marquetry commodes attributed to Nicolas Sageot are closely related to the present lot, including:
-A commode in tortoiseshell and brass contre-partie boulle marquetry then attributed to Gerard, from the collection of the Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine, K.T., sold Sotheby's, London 13th June 2001, lot 253 (£270,000). It had a virtually identical design on the top with a hunting scene with a hound and rabbits and drawers and virtually identical handles and escutcheons but different corner mounts and banding.
-A commode in tortoiseshell and brass contre-partie boulle marquetry attributed to Sageot and with virtually identical marquetry to the drawer fronts, sold Sotheby’s London; Treasures A Princely Taste, 4th July 2012, lot 17 (£180,000).
- A virtually identical (with the exception of the top) commode attributed to Sageot offered for sale from The Greenberg Collection–Important French Furniture, Sotheby's, New York, 21st May 2004, lot 27, with similar marquetry on the drawer fronts and identical ormolu corner, feet and handle mounts and borders.
-A commode attributed to Sageot, formerly in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection with a variation in design to the top but with similar marquetry on the drawers and decoration on the sides, ormolu banding and feet, sold Christie’s, London, 14th December 2000, lot 320.
With its distinctive bowed form and intricate boulle marquetry this commode belongs to a group of commodes attributed to Nicolas Sageot. Sageot had a thriving workshop on the rue du faubourg Saint-Antoine by 1698 and became a master in 1706. Documentary evidence indicates that he also operated as a marchand mercier. The attribution to Sageot is possible due to the presence of Sageot’s stamp, a rarity at this date, on a number of these commodes that all bear the hallmarks of the same workshop. These stamped commodes include a related commode sold in these rooms on 2 July 2024, lot 22 (£302,400) as well as a related commode in première-partie formerly in the collection of the Dukes of Newcastle, Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire (sold Christie's, London, 16 December 1999, lot 50, £287,500). An unstamped commode from the Thyssen collection also in this group sold Christie's, London, 14 December 2000, lot 320, £168,750.
The superb design of the present commode, with its intricate filigree arabesques, abundance of polychrome flowers, and playful mask motifs is inspired by the work of Jean Bérain (1640-1711). Of exceptional quality, the top is closely related to the top of a Boulle marquetry bureau plat in the Wallace collection, London (inv. no. F60) with virtually identical marquetry and a roundel depicting the rabbit hunt scene in reverse to that on the top of this commode. The top of the Wallace Collection bureau plat is from an 18th century commode of similar date to the one offered here, readapted for use as the central portion of the top of the bureau plat in the mid-19th century.
The presence of the Dubois stamp on this commode indicates that it was restored or retailed later in the 18th century by either Jacques (1694-1763), maître 1742 or René Dubois (1737-1799), received maître 1755. Both Jacques and René used the I DUBOIS stamp and René’s workshop in particular specialised in the restoration of Boulle marquetry pieces, as evidenced by a side table attributed to Boulle and stamped I DUBOIS in the Wallace Collection (inv. no. F424) as well as a pair of Boulle marquetry cabinets stamped I DUBOIS at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire (inv. no. 2349.1-2).
A number of further Boulle marquetry commodes attributed to Nicolas Sageot are closely related to the present lot, including:
-A commode in tortoiseshell and brass contre-partie boulle marquetry then attributed to Gerard, from the collection of the Earl of Elgin and 15th Earl of Kincardine, K.T., sold Sotheby's, London 13th June 2001, lot 253 (£270,000). It had a virtually identical design on the top with a hunting scene with a hound and rabbits and drawers and virtually identical handles and escutcheons but different corner mounts and banding.
-A commode in tortoiseshell and brass contre-partie boulle marquetry attributed to Sageot and with virtually identical marquetry to the drawer fronts, sold Sotheby’s London; Treasures A Princely Taste, 4th July 2012, lot 17 (£180,000).
- A virtually identical (with the exception of the top) commode attributed to Sageot offered for sale from The Greenberg Collection–Important French Furniture, Sotheby's, New York, 21st May 2004, lot 27, with similar marquetry on the drawer fronts and identical ormolu corner, feet and handle mounts and borders.
-A commode attributed to Sageot, formerly in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection with a variation in design to the top but with similar marquetry on the drawers and decoration on the sides, ormolu banding and feet, sold Christie’s, London, 14th December 2000, lot 320.