Important 19th Century Charles Cressant Influenced Commode

About the Item

An important French mid-19th century gilt-bronze mounted kingwood, satiné and parquetry bombé commode after the model by Charles Cressent attributed to Maison Millet, Paris the serpentine Brocatelle Violette d'Espagne marble top above two long drawers centred by a flaming urn, flanked to each side by a child holding oak branches and headed by courting doves, the front angles with a bust of a boy and a girl each holding a dove, each bombé side with intertwined oak branches, on oak tree trunk supports and foliate-cast feet. The original model for the present commode dates from the 1730s and is the work of Charles Cressent (maître in 1720; d. 1768). Entering the collection of the Dukes of Hamilton after the French revolution, the commode was sold at the celebrated Hamilton Palace sale (lot 1806) in 1882. It was purchased by Ferdinand Rothschild and is now in the collection at Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire. This impressive Régence style commode is reminiscent of the work of François Linke, however none of the mounts appear to be stamped or recorded in his oeuvre. Maison Millet was an active client of François Linke and it is believed that this commode with its distinctive high quality mounts and construction are characteristic of the production of this celebrated Parisian cabinet maker. Maison Millet was established by Théodore Millet in 1853, and continued until 1902 from premises at 11, Rue Jacques-Coeur, Paris before relocating to 23, Boulevard Beaumarchais. Maison Millet was a highly regarded furniture company that was described as producing 'meuble et bronze d'art, genre ancien et moderne'. The firm won several awards in the series of exhibitions in London and Paris, such as the gold Medal in the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle. In 1902 Maison Millet was authorised by the director of the Palais de Versailles to replicate Marie-Antoinette's celebrated Grand Cabinet à bijoux. Literature: Sir Anthony Blunt, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddeson Manor, Vol 1, 1974.

Attributed to:

Maison Millet (Cabinetmaker)

Dimensions:

Height: 36.23 in (92 cm)Width: 57.49 in (146 cm)Depth: 25.2 in (64 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Kingwood,Ormolu,Gilt,Veneer

Period:

19th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1880

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use.