Antique French Empire Commode/ Chest Marble Top c.1820

View Similar Items

An Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode, Marble Top, French, ca. 1820

French Marquetry Marble Top Commode, Circa 1820

French Empire-Style Commode / Chest of Drawers with Marble Top

Vernis Martin French Antique Commode Chest Marble Top.

Antique Louis XVI French Marble Top Commode Chest

French Empire Painted Commode With Marble Top

Majestic 19th Century French Empire Marble Top Commode Chest of Drawers

19th Century French Empire Marble Top Commode

French Empire Ormolu Mounted Marble Top Walnut Commode

French Empire Style Mahogany Commode with Marble Top

Antique French Empire Walnut Chest of Drawers W/ Black Marble Top

Antique French Marble Top Bombe Commode

About the Item

This stunning antique French Empire chest which was crafted from the most beautiful flame mahogany dates from circa 1820. The commode has three drawers in the frieze with three capacious full width drawers below. It has the most wonderful ormolu mounts, handles and escutcheons typical of the French Empire period and is surmounted by an elegant "Marmo Nero" black marble top. This exquisite marble top serves as the proverbial cherry to this masterpiece, accentuating the majestic aura surrounding this magnificent item. This delicious piece of craftsmanship could serve any purpose, from the focal point of an antiques collection to a remarkable addition to any room in your home. Condition: In excellent condition having been beautifully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 104 x Width 106 x Depth 55 Dimension s in inches: Height 40.9 x Width 41.7 x Depth 21.7 Flame Mahogany Thomas Sheraton - 18th century furniture designer, once characterized mahogany as "best suited to furniture where strength is demanded as well as a wood that works up easily, has a beautiful figure and polishes so well that it is an ornament to any room in which it may be placed." Matching his words to his work, Sheraton designed much mahogany furniture. The qualities that impressed Sheraton are particularly evident in a distinctive pattern of wood called "flame mahogany." The flame figure in the wood is revealed by slicing through the face of the branch at the point where it joins another element of the tree. Ormolu (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1820-1829
Date of Manufacture:
c.1820
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU95061417582

Antique French Louis Revival Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

$3,762

Antique 1820s French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Ormolu

An Empire Ormolu-Mounted Mahogany Commode, Marble Top, French, ca. 1820

$6,950

French Marquetry Marble Top Commode, Circa 1820

Located in Charleston, SC

French marquetry three drawer marble top commode with original ormolu mounts and brasses, and terminating on stylized cabriole legs. All original. Early 19th Century.

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers

French Marquetry Marble Top Commode, Circa 1820

$9,000

French Empire-Style Commode / Chest of Drawers with Marble Top

Located in Houston, TX

This is a handsome chest of drawers having four drawers that Draw easily. A column flanks each side and is accented with Original bronze dore mounts. The drawers are dove tailed an...

Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Mahogany

French Empire-Style Commode / Chest of Drawers with Marble Top

$4,500

Vernis Martin French Antique Commode Chest Marble Top.

By Vernis Martin

Located in Vero Beach, FL

Vernis Martin French Antique Commode Chest Marble Top Charming early 20th century French Louis XV style kingwood side cabinet in the ...

Category

Early 20th Century Louis XV Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

Vernis Martin French Antique Commode Chest Marble Top.

$2,200

Antique Louis XVI French Marble Top Commode Chest

Located in North York, ON

Antique Louis XVI French Marble Top Commode Chest. Late 19th Century, France, Louis XVI Style. Restored in a hand polished black lacquer finis...

Category

Antique 1890s Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Marble, Metal, Brass

Antique Louis XVI French Marble Top Commode Chest

$8,800 Sale Price

20% Off

French Empire Painted Commode With Marble Top

Located in Bradenton, FL

19th century French Empire Painted Commode with Marble Top. Commode features the elegance of fine woodwork with the luxurious touch of a marble top. Commode contains five drawers, on...

Category