20th Century French Elm Parquetry Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode

20th Century French Commode dating to the early 20th Century. With later paint and signs of significant restoration throughout. Circa 1900.

A Fine French Louis XVI Period Parquetry Commode with Unusual Oyster Veneered Decoration. This fine commode is of typical Louis XVI form with chamfered angles, reflected in the shaping of the original white marble top, but otherwise rectangular in shape. The piece consists of three long drawers with original ormolu escutcheon plates and handles and a key. The commode is decorated entirely in parquetry in a range of woods such as kingwood and what appears to be olive wood or cocus. The top drawer front employs a simple repeating geometric relief but the other drawers, and the sides of the commode, employ panels of oyster veneered timber set in to geometric frames. Oyster veneering, or oystering, involves cutting through small branches or roots creating small oyster shell-like veneers and then inlaying them in decorative panels. The decoration on the this commode is abstract veneers of contrasting shapes, sizes and colours being laid next to each other in a pattern. This extremely unusual commode...

Commodes were first introduced in France during the reign of Louis XIV, towards the end of the 17th century. These early offerings were often constructed with luxurious veneers and decorated with ornate handles, escutcheons, and decorative mounts, all in bronze. Our French burlwood commode...

A French Regency Revival 19th/20th Century Transitional Louis XV/XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Kingwood and Tulipwood Parquetry Five-Drawer Commode with Marble Top. The bombé serpentine...