A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, TULIPWOOD AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY COMMODE
Lot 587

A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, TULIPWOOD AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY COMMODE

BY JOSEPH SCHMITZ, CIRCA 1761-65

Closed15 July 2010

Price Realised

GBP 20,000

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A LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED KINGWOOD, TULIPWOOD AND FRUITWOOD MARQUETRY COMMODE
BY JOSEPH SCHMITZ, CIRCA 1761-65
The moulded serpentine fronted brocatelle d'Espagne marble top above a pair of shaped doors inlaid with floral-sprays and birds within a scrolling foliate frame, enclosing a shelved interior, the sides similarly decorated with framed floral bouquets, on cabriole legs headed by pierced rocaille clasps running to sabots, twice stamped 'SCHMITZ' and 'JME', the interior twice inscribed '2617', label to the back numbered '1161', restorations to the veneers
32¾ in. (83 cm.) high; 49½ in. (126 cm.) wide; 23 in. (58.5 cm.) deep

Specialist note

Joseph Schmitz, maître in 1761.

This elegant commode is profusely inlaid with a pattern of floral sprays, butterflies and birds, and the arrangement with doors has resulted in large 'pictures' in wood with a powerful and dense effect. Schmitz specialised in floral marquetry furniture from the off-set of his career and executed various related examples with drawers inlaid sans traverse; his commodes à portes, however, allowed him to execute the most abundant 'pictures' and demontrate his talent as a gifted marqueteur. The present commode was almost certainly executed just after Schmitz obtained his maîtrise, when his work shows close similarities to that of his contemporary Pierre III Migeon, who, intriguingly, also became a master in 1761.