What is a French Louis XV style bombe commode?

A Louis XV style bombe commode is a chest of drawers featuring a swollen or convex front and sides, originating in eighteenth-century France. Revival pieces crafted in the nineteenth century continued this tradition, incorporating Rococo design elements such as flowing curves, floral marquetry, and asymmetrical metal accents.

What materials are traditionally used in French marquetry commodes?

These commodes are typically constructed with an oak or pine carcase, veneered with contrasting hardwoods such as kingwood, rosewood, and walnut. Decorative floral motifs are formed using tinted or natural timber veneers, while protective mounts and handles are made from cast gilt-bronze, also known as ormolu.

How can authentic nineteenth-century French commodes be identified?

Authentic nineteenth-century pieces feature hand-cut dovetail joints, solid secondary timbers inside the drawers, and heavy, hand-chased gilt-bronze mounts. Cabinet-maker stamps or inventory marks may occasionally be found stamped into the timber along the frame edges or back panel.

How can a French marquetry commode be integrated into a modern interior design scheme?

A marquetry commode serves as a focal point in an entry hall, bedroom, or living space when set against neutral walls. Juxtaposing the ornate curved woodwork with understated contemporary lighting or abstract artwork creates a balanced, layered aesthetic.

How should an antique marquetry commode be maintained and cared for?

Dust the surface regularly with a soft, dry cloth and position the piece away from direct sunlight and radiators to avoid veneer shrinkage. Treat the timber periodically with natural beeswax polish, and clean gilt-bronze mounts using only a dry soft brush to protect the original patina.

for sale €4,388 $4,763

£3,750

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Id #SA975970

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Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a stunning antique French Louis Revival marquetry and ormolu mounted kingwood serpentine commode, circa 1880 in date.

The serpentine top with a moulded edge over three long drawers and a shaped apron, on tapered slightly outswept legs, with foliate and floral marquetry decoration throughout and mounted with ormolu mounts

It was crafted from the most beautiful kingwood with decorative hand cut floral marquetry decoration, has oak lined drawers, the most wonderful gilt ormolu mounts, handles and escutcheons.

A truly gorgeous piece, this commode deserves pride of place in any furniture collection.

With working locks and original key.

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 86 x Width 90 x Depth 44

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 11 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches

Kingwood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, mother of pearl, pewter, brass silver or shell) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.

The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.

Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the roya

Physical Dimensions

Height

86cm (33.86")

Width

90cm (35.43")

Depth

44cm (17.32")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Marquetry Bombe Commode to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA975970

Dealers Internal Reference

A3166

Description

This is a stunning antique French Louis Revival marquetry and ormolu mounted kingwood serpentine commode, circa 1880 in date.

The serpentine top with a moulded edge over three long drawers and a shaped apron, on tapered slightly outswept legs, with foliate and floral marquetry decoration throughout and mounted with ormolu mounts

“

It was crafted from the most beautiful kingwood with decorative hand cut floral marquetry decoration, has oak lined drawers, the most wonderful gilt ormolu mounts, handles and escutcheons.

Regent Antiques

fig 1. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 1. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

A truly gorgeous piece, this commode deserves pride of place in any furniture collection.

With working locks and original key.

Condition:

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

fig 2. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 2. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

Dimensions in cm:

Height 86 x Width 90 x Depth 44

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 11 inches x Depth 1 foot, 5 inches

Kingwood

is a classic furniture wood, almost exclusively used for inlays on very fine furniture. Occasionally it is used in the solid for small items and turned work, including parts of billiard cues, e.g., those made by John Parris. It is brownish-purple with many fine darker stripes and occasional irregular swirls. Occasionally it contains pale streaks of a similar colour to sapwood.

fig 3. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 3. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

The wood is very dense and hard and can be brought to a spectacular finish. it turns well but due to its density and hardness can be difficult to work with hand tools. It also has a tendency to blunt the tools due to its abrasive properties.

fig 4. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 4. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

fig 5. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 5. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

fig 6. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 6. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of colour. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil).

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material (such as wood, mother of pearl, pewter, brass silver or shell) of different colours are inserted into surface wood veneer to form intricate patterns such as scrolls or flowers.

The technique of veneered marquetry had its inspiration in 16th century Florence. Marquetry elaborated upon Florentine techniques of inlaying solid marble slabs with designs formed of fitted marbles, jaspers and semi-precious stones. This work, called opere di commessi, has medieval parallels in Central Italian "Cosmati"-work of inlaid marble floors, altars and columns. The technique is known in English as pietra dura, for the "hardstones" used: onyx, jasper, cornelian, lapis lazuli and colored marbles. In Florence, the Chapel of the Medici at San Lorenzo is completely covered in a colored marble facing using this demanding jig-sawn technique.

fig 9. A nineteenth-century French Louis XV style bombe commode featuring floral marquetry veneer, three drawers, and cast gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 9. Antique French Louis Revival Marquetry Commode Chest of Drawers 19th C

Techniques of wood marquetry were developed in Antwerp and other Flemish centers of luxury cabinet-making during the early 16th century. The craft was imported full-blown to France after the mid-seventeenth century, to create furniture of unprecedented luxury being made at the roya