18th Century Louis XVI Neoclassical Marquetry Commode or Chest of Drawers, so-called “Sauteuse”
Standing on four slender tapering legs, the rectangular body of the commode or so-called “sauteuse” holds one large and three small top drawers, of which the drawer in the center closes all three of them. Underneath the large bottom drawer a shaped apron with a gilt bronze Neoclassical ornament. The large drawer with three mirror-veneered panels, with checkered inlaid banding and fillet inlays, the frieze drawers and sides inlaid to simulate fluting, also framed with checkered inlaid banding. Panels applied with ribbon-tied gilt-bronze keyhole mounts and circular Neoclassical handles. Corresponding red and grey Rouge Griotte Belge marble top.
Fine commode chest of drawers or sauteuse with elegant proportions and exquisite geometrical marquetry displaying high craftsmanship.
The chest of drawers does not bear a stamp, but the shape of the commode and the style of the marquetry lead to a
cabinetmaker of East France/Lyonnaise background such as Jacob ( or Jacques Frédéric ) Jauffman (born 1745, master 1770), who is known for the production of fine marquetry Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture, especially commodes showing the same elegant and delicate proportions and style of geometrical marquetry decoration as the commode or chest of drawers offered here.
See: Deloche, Bernard/Mornand, Jean-Yves: L’Ébénisterie provinciale en France au XVIIIe siècle et Abraham Couleru, Dijon, 2011, p. 769-71.
