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Lot Essay
The overall shape and ormolu mounts of this commode echo the elegant designs of the ébénistes Jacques-Philippe Carel (maître in 1723), Jean Desforges (maître before 1730) and Bernard II van Risen Burgh, BVRB (maître in 1730). A strong similarity in form can be seen in a drawing of a commode by BVRB in the State Archives, Munich (illustrated). BVRB supplied the majority of the commodes ordered circa 1733 for the refurnishing of the Munich Residenz by Elector Charles-Albert of Bavaria (G. Hojer & H. Ottomeyer, Die Möbel der Residenz München, Munich, 1995, vol. I, p. 89).
The distinctive apron mount of confronting C-scrolls, though, was employed on commodes by Jean Desforges and Jacques-Philippe Carel. Carel - at the same time as BVRB – also supplied a commode to the Residenz in Munich via the marchand-mercier Charles Darnault, which was veneered with trellis parquetry and mounted with very closely-related chutes, as well as the distinctive apron mount seen on this commode. The commode supplied by Desforges to the duchesse de Richelieu circa 1745-9; the commode attributed to Desforges from the property of a Swiss collector, sold Christie’s, London, 4 July 2013, lot 14 and the magnificent matched pair of commodes veneered in Chinese and Japanese lacquer in the Riahi Collection, sold Christie's, London, 6 December 2012, lot 40, attributable to either BVRB or Desforges, all feature this same apron mount (A. Pradère, Les Ebénistes Français, Paris, 1989, p. 176). Moreover, another comparable example stamped by Carel, with similar parquetry decoration, was sold from the collection of Viscount Abercorn, Christie’s, London, 26 June 1929, lot 118.
The distinctive apron mount of confronting C-scrolls, though, was employed on commodes by Jean Desforges and Jacques-Philippe Carel. Carel - at the same time as BVRB – also supplied a commode to the Residenz in Munich via the marchand-mercier Charles Darnault, which was veneered with trellis parquetry and mounted with very closely-related chutes, as well as the distinctive apron mount seen on this commode. The commode supplied by Desforges to the duchesse de Richelieu circa 1745-9; the commode attributed to Desforges from the property of a Swiss collector, sold Christie’s, London, 4 July 2013, lot 14 and the magnificent matched pair of commodes veneered in Chinese and Japanese lacquer in the Riahi Collection, sold Christie's, London, 6 December 2012, lot 40, attributable to either BVRB or Desforges, all feature this same apron mount (A. Pradère, Les Ebénistes Français, Paris, 1989, p. 176). Moreover, another comparable example stamped by Carel, with similar parquetry decoration, was sold from the collection of Viscount Abercorn, Christie’s, London, 26 June 1929, lot 118.