Important French Louis XV Marquetry Gilt-Bronze Commode ‘En Tombeau’, Stamped “Birckle” (Jacques Bircklé (1734-1803) A Louis XV marquetry and gilt bronze commode ‘En Tombeau’ or ‘tomb-shaped’, with two large drawers below two half-width drawers, the whole with bombé sides and a serpentine outline, on low feet, with a gilt bronze mounted apron in the centre front. The commode shows excellent cartouche marquetry carcase of oak, the mounts of gilt bronze with superb Louis XV-style c-scroll and rocaille cast mounts to the angles and the apron and finely cast gilt bronze handles of foliate shape. The top is of red marble (Pyrénées orientale). Stamped “J.Birckle” and proably “JME (see photo).
Jacques Bircklé, born 1734, received his cabinet makers’ master title 1764 and set up shop at first at the rue de Charenton and later at the rue Saint Nicolas and became one of the most famous maitres ebenistes of his time. Later in his career he was commissioned by Marie-Antoinette to work for her Chateau Saint Cloud and also worked for the Duc d’Orleans, for the Princesse de Lamballe and other noble clintele. Bircklé worked in a variety of Styles from Louis XV to Louis XVI, his pieces of furniture were known and appreciated for their high quaity of marquetry rather than an abundance of gilt bronze decoration. Works of Jacques Bircklé nowadays are displayed e.g. at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and the Musee Cognacq-Jay in Paris and the Musée Lambinet at Versailles.
Literature: Kjellberg, Pierre: Le mobilier francais du XVIII siècle, Paris 2008, p. 74-78.
Condition report: very good,. French polish refreshed, min. wesr consistent with age and use, min. fading – detailed condition report on request
