French Mid 18th Century Louis XV Commode or Sauteuse, Stamped “J.Saddon /JME”
This excellent, beautifully proportioned commode displays a bombé front with a shaped and eared “Rouge Royale” red marble top above two long drawers, stamped on the top of the right and the left front stile carrying the name of Jean Saddon as well as the stamp of the jury JME. With keeled angles, on high and slender cabriole legs with gilt bronze sabots. Between the front legs a shaped apron mounted with gilt bronze rocaille and foliage motif. A carcase of oak, decorated with mirrored veneer marquetry and set with extensive gilt bronze mounts finely cast and chased featuring rocaille motifs and foliage.
The ebenist or cabinet maker Jean Saddon is only known through his stamp on a small amount of excellent Louis XV furniture, especially Louis XV commodes which seemingly were destined for a courtly clientel. Historical documents that could paint a more lively picture of his life, work and his customers could not yet be discovered. Besides producing marquetry furniture he also seems to have been working as a ménusier, meaning that he also produced carved wooden furniture: a Louis XV commode with rich and extravagant rococo carving bearing his stamp is displayed at the Musée des Beaux Arts of Reims.
Literature: Kjellberg, Le mobilier francais du XVIIIe siècle, Paris 2008, p. 807
Condition: very good, wear consistent with age and use, min. wear, French polish refreshed – detailed condition report on request
