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Lot Essay
Among the work of Charles Honoré Lannuier in New York, case furniture is extremely rare and only three stamped or labeled marble-top commodes, or "French bureaus" are known, including this example. All three examples have mahogany pilasters with flat, gilt-brass capitals, fine white marble tops, highly figured mahogany veneers and verdigris animal-paw feet. One of the related labeled marble top chest of drawers with carved feet was sold at Christie's, New York, 17 January 2003, lot 487. The other example, with turned, rather than carved, feet was sold at Sotheby's, New York, 26 October 1985, lot 39 (Peter M. Kenny, Frances F. Bretter and Ulrich Leben, Honoré Lannuier: Cabinetmaker from Paris (New York, 1998), pp. 202-203, cat. nos. 44, 45).
Descending in the family of Rufus King (1755-1827), a Hamiltonian Federalist, signer of the Constitution and minister to Great Britain, this commode may have been commissioned for him or presented as a wedding gift for his son, James Gore King (1791-1853) who married Sarah Gracie (1791-1878), daughter of merchant Archibald Gracie (1755-1829), for whom New York's Gracie Mansion was built.
Descending in the family of Rufus King (1755-1827), a Hamiltonian Federalist, signer of the Constitution and minister to Great Britain, this commode may have been commissioned for him or presented as a wedding gift for his son, James Gore King (1791-1853) who married Sarah Gracie (1791-1878), daughter of merchant Archibald Gracie (1755-1829), for whom New York's Gracie Mansion was built.