What defines an 18th-century French marquetry commode?

A French marquetry commode from this era is a low chest of drawers featuring decorative wood veneers laid in geometric or floral patterns, accompanied by cast gilt-bronze mounts and a shaped marble top.

Which materials were traditionally used in crafting French commodes?

Cabinetmakers employed exotic timber veneers such as kingwood, tulipwood, and rosewood over an oak carcass, finishing the piece with chased ormolu hardware and a thick contoured marble slab.

How do specialists identify authentic French commodes from this period?

Identification involves checking for hand-cut dovetail drawer joints, original chalk markings, hand-chased gilt-bronze fittings, and maker stamps struck directly into the wooden frame beneath the marble slab.

How can a French marquetry commode be incorporated into modern interiors?

Positioning a commode in an entryway, hallway, or drawing room creates a focal anchor, contrasting detailed woodwork against neutral wall surfaces and contemporary lighting.

What maintenance is required for a marquetry commode with a marble top?

Wood veneers should be kept away from direct heat sources and maintained with natural beeswax, while the marble top requires non-acidic, pH-neutral stone cleaners to prevent surface etching.

for sale €7,605 $8,255

£6,500

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Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

18th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a beautiful antique French Louis XVI walnut, kingwood and ormolu mounted commode, circa 1790 in date.

It has a stunning shaped Italian Breccia marble top above a serpentine front having two short over two full width drawers, the drawers fitted with decorative scrolling ormolu handles.

The bombe' commode with serpentine sides, kingwood parquetry, superb decorative gilded bronze ormolu mounts and raised on short shaped ormolu mounted legs.

A lot of intricate workmanship by a master craftsman has gone into the creation of this wonderful commode.

Complete with working locks and key.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, French polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

Height 82 x Width 100 x Depth 50

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 8 inches x Width 3 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Breccia Marble

Is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix that can be similar to or different from the composition of the fragments.

Breccia rock can be any colour and is very colourful. The colour is determined by the colour of the matrix or cement along with the colour of the angular rock fragments.

The word has its origins in the Italian language, in which it means either "loose gravel" or "stone made by cemented gravel".

For thousands of years, the striking visual appearance of Breccias has made them a popular sculptural and architectural material. Breccia was used for column bases in the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete in about 1800 BC. Breccia was used on a limited scale by the ancient Egyptians, one of the best-known examples is the statue of the goddess Tawaret in the British Museum.

It was regarded by the Romans as an especially precious stone and was often used in high-profile public buildings. Many types of marble are brecciated, such as Breccia Oniciata or Breche Nouvelle.

Breccia is most often used as an ornamental or facing material in walls and columns. A particularly striking example can be seen in the Pantheon in Rome, which features two gigantic columns of pavonazzetto, a breccia coming from Phrygia, in modern Turkey. Pavonazzetto obtains its name from its extremely colourful appearance, which is reminiscent of a peacock's feathers,pavone is "peacock" in Italian.

Our reference: A2263

Physical Dimensions

Height

82cm (32.28")

Width

100cm (39.37")

Depth

50cm (19.69")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Marquetry Marble Commode to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA885150

Dealers Internal Reference

A2263

Description

This is a beautiful antique French Louis XVI walnut, kingwood and ormolu mounted commode, circa 1790 in date.

“

It has a stunning shaped Italian Breccia marble top above a serpentine front having two short over two full width drawers, the drawers fitted with decorative scrolling ormolu handles.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 1. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

The bombe' commode with serpentine sides, kingwood parquetry, superb decorative gilded bronze ormolu mounts and raised on short shaped ormolu mounted legs.

A lot of intricate workmanship by a master craftsman has gone into the creation of this wonderful commode.

fig 2. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 2. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

Complete with working locks and key.

Condition:

In really excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, French polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:

fig 3. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 3. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

Height 82 x Width 100 x Depth 50

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 8 inches x Width 3 foot, 3 inches x Depth 1 foot, 8 inches

Breccia Marble

Is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix that can be similar to or different from the composition of the fragments.

fig 4. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 4. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

Breccia rock can be any colour and is very colourful. The colour is determined by the colour of the matrix or cement along with the colour of the angular rock fragments.

The word has its origins in the Italian language, in which it means either "loose gravel" or "stone made by cemented gravel".

fig 5. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 5. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

For thousands of years, the striking visual appearance of Breccias has made them a popular sculptural and architectural material. Breccia was used for column bases in the Minoan palace of Knossos on Crete in about 1800 BC. Breccia was used on a limited scale by the ancient Egyptians, one of the best-known examples is the statue of the goddess Tawaret in the British Museum.

fig 6. An 18th-century French marquetry commode with a serpentine front, variegated marble top, herringbone wood parquetry, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 6. Antique French Louis XVI Marquetry Commode Chest Circa 1790 18th C

It was regarded by the Romans as an especially precious stone and was often used in high-profile public buildings. Many types of marble are brecciated, such as Breccia Oniciata or Breche Nouvelle.

Breccia is most often used as an ornamental or facing material in walls and columns. A particularly striking example can be seen in the Pantheon in Rome, which features two gigantic columns of pavonazzetto, a breccia coming from Phrygia, in modern Turkey. Pavonazzetto obtains its name from its extremely colourful appearance, which is reminiscent of a peacock's feathers,pavone is "peacock" in Italian.

Our reference: A2263