A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD KINGWOOD AND PARQUETRY COM...

Hammer

€11,000

A FRENCH ORMOLU-MOUNTED TULIPWOOD KINGWOOD AND PARQUETRY COMMODE AFTER THE MODEL DESIGNED BY THE SLODTZ BROTHERS AND EXECUTED BY ANTOINE-ROBERT GAUDREAUX 19TH CENTURY, the serpentine red marble top above twin cupboard doors, the doors and sides mounted with gilt metal cartouches depicting figures and animals, surrounded by elaborate swag and ribbon and medal decoration, raised on ram head capped scroll supports. 93cm high, 175cm wide, 77cm deep This commode is based on the commode médallier by Antoine Gaudreaux (d. 1746), so named because it housed the series of medals known as the ‘Medallic History of Louis XIV and Louis XV’. This collection included portraits of prominent European monarchs and, later, medals representing the finest buildings from the reign of Louis XV. The commode is recorded in 1761 in the collection of Monsieur de Selle, controller general of the King’s Chamber. The commode was delivered on the 10th of January 1739 for the Cabinet aux tableaux in Louis XV’s newly completed apartments at Versailles. At the time, it was described 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 was produced by Gilles Joubert (d. 1775), which, along with the commode médallier, were transferred by order of Louis XVI to the Medal Department of the Royal Library. The suite returned to Versailles in 1960, where it remains on display. The commode was a popular model amongst Parisian makers during the second half of the 19th century and many variants of it were made. A Similar model after Gaudreaux made by Francois Linke is held in the Wallace collection. Antoine-Robert Gaudreaux was appointed Ébéniste de Roi was a French cabinetmaker who from 1726 became the main supplier to the Garde Meuble de la Couronne. From 1726 until his death, first as Ede la Reine and then as Ebeniste du Roi, he exercised a near monopoly over commissions intended for royal residences. The bronze mounts on the original commode were modelled by the Slodtz brothers. René-Michel was considered the most prominent of the brothers. He was awarded the first prize for sculpture by the French Academy in 1726 and subsequently studied at the French Academy in Rome, a city in which he was to live and work for 20 years. During this period, he won several important commissions, including his marble sculpture of Saint Bruno in the Basilica of St Peter in the Vatican. René-Michel re-joined his brothers in France, after his time in Italy, in service of the king, designing and executing decorations and artworks for the Menus-Plaisirs du Roi. A similar model sold, Christie’s New York 27th February 2024, lot 667 (price realised $17,640).