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    Sale 6594

    FURNITURE, PORCELAIN AND SILVER FROM LONGLEAT

    London

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    13 - 14 June 2002

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    • A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED TUL
    Lot 395

    A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD AND CHINESE COROMANDEL POLYCHROME-DECORATED LACQUER BREAKFRONT COMMODE A VANTAUX

    BY PIERRE-HARRY MEWESEN AND SUPPLIED BY THE MARCHAND-MERCIER ADRIEN FAIZELOT-DELORME, THE LACQUER LATE 17TH EARLY 18TH CENTURY

    Price realised

    GBP 204,650

    Estimate

    GBP 100,000 - GBP 150,000

    Follow lot

    A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD AND CHINESE COROMANDEL POLYCHROME-DECORATED LACQUER BREAKFRONT COMMODE A VANTAUX
    By Pierre-Harry Mewesen and supplied by the marchand-mercier Adrien Faizelot-Delorme, the lacquer late 17th early 18th Century
    The rectangular portor marble top above an entrelac and rosette-filled frieze enclosing three drawers, above two short central drawers decorated sans traverse with Oriental figures in a landscape flanked by two conformingly-decorated doors, each enclosing a shelf, the sides conformingly decorated, with a shaped apron with urn mount flanked by balls, the canted angles mounted with ribbon-tied laurel and rose garland on a japanned ground, on rectangular tapering legs inlaid with husks, with foliate sabots, stamped 'P.H. MEVVESEN' on the front left-hand corner, 'JME' and 'DELORME', the platform for one apron ball stamped 'ZZ' and possibly replaced
    36 in. (91.5 cm.) high; 58 in. (147.5 cm.) wide; 25¾ in. (65.5 cm.) deep

    Provenance

    Almost certainly bought by Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837) for Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent at Longleat.

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    Literature and exhibited

    Literature

    1869 Inventory, Bedroom A, First Floor, 'A Louis XVI commode with panels in imitation of Japan lacquer mounted with ormolu and with veined black marble slab'.
    1896 Inventory (2nd Marquess' Heirlooms), No. 39 1 Bedroom, p. 45 r 'A 4 ft 9 Queen Anne commode with brown and black veined marble top enriched with ormolu mounts and Japanese panels'.
    M. Aldrich, 'The Marquess and the Decorator', Country Life, 7 December 1989, p. 166, fig. 8.


    Lot Essay

    Pierre-Harry Mewesen, maître in 1766.
    Adrien-Faizelot Delorme, maître in 1748.

    This architectural commode, stamped by both Delorme and Mewesen, is characteristic of the oeuvre of the latter ébéniste, although the model itself appears to have been retailed almost exclusively by Delorme. Executed in both 'mosaique' parquetry and lacquer, this model appears to have enjoyed considerable success. An identical commode, save for the decoration of the lacquer panels, was sold in Paris, 11-12 October 1957, lot 312. It was a pair to a second commode stamped by Delorme. A further commode in lacquer of this model was sold from the collection of G. de Salverte in Paris in 1887, lot 121 (illustrated in S. de Ricci, Le Style Louis XVI, Stuttgart, p.152), whilst an example in parquetry, also stamped by Delorme is illustrated in G. Janneau, Les Commodes, Paris, 1977, pl. XXXIII, fig.b.

    Two smaller commodes d'entrefenêtre, decorated with panels of Chinese lacquer, remain in a French Private Collection whilst a further example, stamped by Mewesen was offered anonymously at Christie's Monaco, 16 June 1990, lot 226.

    The use of coromandel lacquer was also employed by Mewesen on a meuble d'appui conserved in the Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg.

    Other information

    Special Notice

    No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.


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