Circa 1750
A French Louis XV Ormolu-Mounted Marquetry Commode by Mathieu Criaerd and Stamped Leleu, Circa 1750
The serpentine-fronted, bombé commode decorated with floral marquetry having a moulded brêche D’Alep marble top, above two deep drawers, the lower one with a shaped apron. The sides have similar decorated panels of floral marquetry and the shoulders are headed with ormolu pierced scroll mounts running down the front of the cabriole legs. The front feet with ormolu sabots above fine gilt floral decoration running down the length of the leg and arching into the body of the commode. Due to the characteristics of the ormolu bonzes and the shape of the commode it was almost certainly made by Criaerd and restored at a later date in the 18th Century by Jf Leleu
Exhibited
At the Musee Des Arts Decoratifs in 1955 in their exhibition “Grands Ebenistes et Menuisiers Parisiens du XVIII Siecle 1740 – 1790”
Catalogue entry 184
Mathieu Criaerd became maitre ébeniste in 1738
Mathieu Criaerd (1689 – 1776) was the most prominent of a large family of cabinet makers of Flemish ancestry who were working in Paris in the 18th Century. Through the Marchand-Mercier Thomas-Joachin Hebert, Criaerd made in 1743 a commode and encoignures en suite that were delivered for the use of Louis XV mistress Mme De Mailly in her blue bedroom at the Chateau de Choisy. The sensational success of this set brought Criaerd to the notice of wealthy clients. His work can be seen in most of the major Museums that have French Furniture.
Measurements
| Dimensions | CM | Inches |
|---|---|---|
| Width: | 127 | 50 |
| Depth: | 66 | 26 |
| Height: | 86 | 34 |