What characterises Louis XV Revival style furniture?

Louis XV Revival furniture, prominent in the 19th century, recreates 18th-century Rococo design features including asymmetrical curves, cabriole legs, floral marquetry, and cast gilt-bronze mounts.

What materials were traditionally used in 19th-century French marquetry commodes?

These commodes typically feature exotic timber veneers such as kingwood, rosewood, and walnut applied over an oak or pine carcase, topped with shaped marble slabs and decorated with gilt-bronze ormolu fittings.

How can one identify authentic 19th-century French marquetry pieces?

Authentic pieces demonstrate hand-cut timber veneers, hand-chased brass or bronze mounts, hand-dovetailed drawer joints, and age-appropriate wear or oxidisation to the underside and drawer interiors.

How can a French Louis Revival commode be integrated into a modern interior?

A Louis Revival commode functions as an accent piece in neutral hallways, bedrooms, or living spaces, contrasting structured modern architectural lines with detailed historical curves.

How should antique marquetry furniture and marble tops be maintained?

Veneered surfaces require dusting with a dry microfibre cloth and protection from direct sunlight or heat source moisture changes. Marble tops should be cleaned with pH-neutral solutions to prevent etching.

for sale €3,218 $3,493

£2,750

Regent Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Sep 2016

View Dealers Stock Page

About Us

We specialise in english and continental furniture, silver, porcelain and decorative items.
Trade Associations

Regent Antiques is a registered member of LAPADA CINOA

Relevant Links

Louis Xv Chest

Walnut Bombe Chest

French Bedside Chest

Floral Marquetry Chest

Rococo Revival Commode

Antique French Side Chest

Kingwood Marquetry Commode

Id #SA998754

PDF

SAVE

Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

Name: Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA998754
Price: 2750 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Regent Antiques

Description

This is a stunning antique French walnut, kingwood and marquetry Louis Revival bombe commode, circa 1880 in date.

This gorgeous commode features a stunning shaped Rouge Griote marble top above three full width drawers for ample storage, and was inspired by the Louis XV style. Elaborately detailed, the commode features exquisite scrolling foliate marquetry complimented by exquisite gilded ormolu handles and mounts.

Complete with working locks and key.

Provenance:

Private Scottish Collection, Morayshire

Condition:

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

Dimensions in cm:

Height 87 x Width 70 x Depth 39

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches

Rouge Griotte marble - is named after the griotte cherry because of its remarkable bright red colour. The more red the marble, the higher quality it is. When the marble contains many goniatites full of white calcite the marble is called “Partridge eye”.

The quarries, still active today, are in the Herault region and the name “Griotte from Italy” is a marketing label. Red Griotte was the favourite marble for Royal apartments in the 18th century, particularly for mantles, like the one in the office of Louis XIV in Versailles.

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material 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 royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.

Our reference: A3305

Physical Dimensions

Height

87cm (34.25")

Width

70cm (27.56")

Depth

39cm (15.35")

Declaration

Regent Antiques has dated this French Marquetry Bombe Commode to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA998754

Dealers Internal Reference

A3305

Description

This is a stunning antique French walnut, kingwood and marquetry Louis Revival bombe commode, circa 1880 in date.

“

This gorgeous commode features a stunning shaped Rouge Griote marble top above three full width drawers for ample storage, and was inspired by the Louis XV style.

Regent Antiques

Elaborately detailed, the commode features exquisite scrolling foliate marquetry complimented by exquisite gilded ormolu handles and mounts.

fig 1. A 19th-century French Louis XV Revival commode with floral marquetry inlay, a variegated marble top, three drawers, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 1. Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

Complete with working locks and key.

Provenance:

Private Scottish Collection, Morayshire

Condition:

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

fig 2. A 19th-century French Louis XV Revival commode with floral marquetry inlay, a variegated marble top, three drawers, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 2. Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

Dimensions in cm:

Height 87 x Width 70 x Depth 39

Dimensions in inches:

Height 2 foot, 10 inches x Width 2 foot, 4 inches x Depth 1 foot, 3 inches

Rouge Griotte marble - is named after the griotte cherry because of its remarkable bright red colour. The more red the marble, the higher quality it is. When the marble contains many goniatites full of white calcite the marble is called “Partridge eye”.

fig 3. A 19th-century French Louis XV Revival commode with floral marquetry inlay, a variegated marble top, three drawers, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 3. Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

The quarries, still active today, are in the Herault region and the name “Griotte from Italy” is a marketing label. Red Griotte was the favourite marble for Royal apartments in the 18th century, particularly for mantles, like the one in the office of Louis XIV in Versailles.

Marquetry

is decorative artistry where pieces of material 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 5. A 19th-century French Louis XV Revival commode with floral marquetry inlay, a variegated marble top, three drawers, and gilt-bronze mounts. — fig 5. Antique French Louis Revival King Wood Walnut Marquetry Commode 19th Century

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 royal manufactory of the Gobelins, charged with providing furnishings to decorate Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Early masters of French marquetry were the Fleming Pierre Golle and his son-in-law, André-Charles Boulle, who founded a dynasty of royal and Parisian cabinet-makers (ébénistes) and gave his name to a technique of marquetry employing brass with pewter in arabesque or intricately foliate designs.

Our reference: A3305