A Very Fine and Important Pair of Art Deco Commodes Firmly Attributed to Jules LeleuFrench Circa 1940These magnificent pieces are veneered throughout in walnut, laid in an extended parquetry pattern across the doors. The cabinets themselves are of inverted breakfront form with the central doors slightly recessed compared to the doors to either side. The side doors are of a complex undulating form which would have been very difficult to create, and particularly difficult to veneer. These pieces were originally intended as dressing commodes and, as such, have mirrors behind the central doors. The mirrors act as cheval mirrors, meaning that one can stand in the middle of the three surfaces and see an outfit ''in the round'', very useful for the wealthy Art Deco lady putting together her latest showstopping outfit. The central mirror can then be opened to reveal a series of shelves and small drawers behind. The side doors conceal additional shelves, meaning that these pieces offer an abundance of storage options.The commodes have typical Leleu overhanging form, the body of the pieces sat on shorter bases. Another Leleu feature that tends to appear on such pieces is a central mount to draw the eye, the master has chosen to use an interesting ormolu mount of a female bacchante and a faun which also functions as the escutcheon for the central section. Perhaps the bacchic subject was chosen because the lucky people who commissioned these pieces would essentially have been using them to dress to entertain, and Bacchus was associated with the concept of entertainment and revelry.Although these pieces are not signed we have no doubt as to their authorship, based on numerous other pieces by Leleu that we have handled in the past. Furniture by the master is always sought after and pairs of cabinets, as opposed to singles, are almost never encountered, making these real collectors'' pieces and of great interest to connoisseurs and decorators alike.Jules Le...