An Exceptional Pair of Italian Rosewood and Inlaid ''Empire'' Commodes c.1820.In the fashionable Empire taste popularised by Napoleon during his conquests of Europe in the early 19th century, these commodes are a very unusual model with many interesting decorative features. They are veneered in rosewood of rich, dark colour, enhanced with inlaid brass work. The frieze drawer front incorporates wreaths of laurel leaves, the symbol of victory, and there are refined neoclassical floral inlays to the frieze in the ancient Greek taste. The piece is supported by columnar pilasters with ormolu capitals. Each commode retains its original white marble top. The commodes stand on ebonised and parcel gilt hairy paw feet.This is a particularly unusual model of commode and the pieces incorporate all of the features associated with the most fashionable, and expensive, taste of the time. Whoever commissioned these pieces originally would have had to have been extremely wealthy, these commodes ...