Chest of drawers in rosewood veneer with Oeben marquetry, Louis XV period

Exceptional Louis XV chest of drawers called "commode sauteuse" in rosewood veneer, violet wood and stained wood, curved on three sides and topped by a Royal marble top. It opens in front of two drawers on two rows with hidden crossbars. This chest of drawers from the 18th century is beautifully inlaid with cubes without bottoms called "Oeben", cloisonné in double frames of fillets on a background of amaranth. The whole is underlined by a gilded and chiseled bronze decoration, in handles consisting of ribbon knots sheathed and connected by a garland of laurel, in keyhole of ribbon knots ending on each side by a garland of laurel cloth and in lower crosspiece, a lamp base enhanced by an inverted shell and stylized scrolls. The interior of the drawers and the bottom are in solid oak. This chest of drawers is topped by a Royal red marble top carved in "bec de corbin". The whole frame rests on four cambered feet, flanked by stylized ormolu scrolls ending on hooves.

Oeben's cube marquetry

Jean-François Oeben was the king's cabinetmaker from 1761 to 1763. His work was part of the history of marquetry in the 18th century. He will work and specialize in geometrical patterns as in the elaboration of these famous "cubes without bottom" requiring an extreme skill of the craftsman in its realization. This repetitive pattern is particularly impressive by the three-dimensional effect it brings. Composed of three rhombuses forming a cube in perspective under a hexagonal form, it is indeed difficult to master because it would let appear the least shift in case of slight clumsiness. Oeben's cubes will undoubtedly mark the furniture of the Louis XV style but the models of the period present on this chest of drawers are rare.

The jumping chest of drawers

The jumping chest of drawers is smaller than the classic chest of drawers because its frame has two rows of drawers and it is raised on half-high legs, often curved. This elegant piece of furniture has a light look as if it could jump on legs. The first jumping chests of drawers appeared during the Regency style with the cabinetmaker Charles Cressent. Under Louis XV, they will become widespread and will become essential.

Circa: 1760

Dim: W: 118cm, D: 60cm, H: 91cm.
Dim: W: 46,5in, D: 23,6in, H: 35,8in.

Condition report : Very good condition. Varnished with a stamp.