18th Century French large Louis XVI Neoclassical Breakfront Marquetry Gilt Bronze Commode or Sauteuse, attributed ti Etienne Avril (1748-1791):
A Louis XVI gilt bronze mounted palisander marquetry break front commode or chest of drawers, with a shaped moulded mottled grey marble top above three frieze drawers (laid out as if one frieze drawer) above two long drawers of slight break-front form inlaid with strapwork panels. The two large and the central small drawer show an oval ribboned keyhole frame while the two small frieze drawers athe sides repeat the shape of the round neoclassical ring pulls of the two lower large drawers. Each keyhole comes with its key. The rounded corners of the commode with trompe l’oeil cannelure marquetry show neoclassical Louis XVI style guttae gilt bronze mounts at the top and end in round tapering legs with gilt bronze sabots.
Although the commode does not bear an ebenist’s stamp, this piece of furniture with its elegant proportions, reduced geometrical marquetry and rounded corners and legs strongly resembles the work of Etienne Avril (1748-1791, master 1774): Avril opened several shops in the town of Paris and was able to gain numerous high class commissions such as the one of Marie-Antoinette for Chateau Saint-Cloud. Pieces of furniture of Etienne Avril are exhibited at the Chateau de Fontainebleau, the Musée Marmottan in Paris and the Musée des Arts décoratifs at Lyon.
A classical design for the Louis XVI period of pure straight and nearly modern shape displaying a fine elegance.
Literature: Pierre Kjellberg, Le Mobilier Francais du XVIIIe Siècle, p- 38-40, fig. p.38
Condition: very good, min. wear consistent with age and use, min. fading – detailed condition report on request
