A PAIR OF SPANISH CARLOS IV PALLISANDER, TULIPWOOD AND MARQUETRY COMMODES

Embellished with extremely delicate neoclassical marquetry which is indebted to both French and English prototypes, these superb commodes typify the Spanish neoclassical 'court' style of the 1790s and early 1800s. Characterised by its refined, dense and small scale marquetry and sophisticated slender forms, furniture in this Spanish variant of the late Louis XVI style could rival the most splendid pieces executed in Paris. During his reign Carlos IV's palaces were being furnished with precious French furniture and works of art imported from Paris, including ébénisterie and menuiserie by Adam Weisweiler and Georges Jacob, and these were combined with outstanding pieces made by local cabinet-makers such as José Lopez and Pablo Palencia. The marquetry of the present commodes relates to that of the furniture and wall-panelling at the Palacio de los Borbones at the Escorial, which was executed in 1794 by José Lopez and Domingo de Urquiza (I. Suarez (ed.), Carlos IV, Mecenas y Coleccionista, Madrid, 2009, no. 324).