Circa 1750
A Fine Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Chinese Black Lacquer Commode, by Delorme, Circa 1750
With a serpentine fronted Verde Antico marble top, the front containing two long drawers, sans traverse and raised on cabriole legs; the whole decorated with panels of chinoiserie lacquer incorporating figures in a landscape on the front, flowering branches at the sides all in tones of gold on a black background and surrounded by ormolu borders elaborately cast and chiselled with scrolls, leaves, cabochons, flowerheads incorporating keyhole escutcheons, the corners fitted with ormolu chutes incorporating flowerheads and continuing down to the scrolled ormolu sabots.
The commode is stamped Delorme and JME and with a 19th Century Royal Inventory mark
Provenance
After the Revolution bought to decorate one of the Royal Chateau
Collection of Antenor Patino, sold Sotheby’s New York April 7th 1979 Lot 161
Sold Sotheby’s New York Important French Furniture May 4th 1985 Lot 336
Illustrated
French Furniture Makers “The Art of the Ebeniste from Louis XIV to the revolution” by Alexandre Padere Page 181 No 166
Adrien Delorme became maitre ebeniste in 1748 and was active until 1783
Following the defeat of Napoleon and his exile to Elba the Bourbon Monarchy was restored with Louis XVI younger brother Stanislas being crowned as Louis XVIII in 1814. His reign lasted until 1824 and was followed by his younger brother Charles X who died in 1830. On the death of Charles the crown went to the 5th Cousin of Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X who was a 6th generation descendant of Louis XIII from the house of Orleans known as Louis Philippe and reigned until 1848. The commode almost certainly was therefore bought by one of these Kings to furnish one of the Palaces that had been emptied in the sales that followed the revolution of 1792.
Measurements
| Dimensions | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 148 | 58 |
| Depth: | 63.5 | 25 |
| Height: | 89 | 35 |