Commode
manner of André-Charles Boulle the Elder (1642 - 1732)
Category
Furniture
Date
circa 1700
Materials
Marquetry, Ebony, ormolu, walnut, deal, bone
Measurements
81 x 102 x 65.5 cm
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset
NT 1254726
Summary
A marquetry inlaid ebony, ebonised and brass mounted commode, in the manner of Andre Charles Boulle (Paris 1642-1732) circa 1700. The top and sides inlaid with vases of flowers with bone detail. The serpentine front with two short and two long drawers similarly inlaid with flower sprays and scrolls. All on an ebony ground, between canted angles pierced at the base and mounted with cloven hoof feet. The drawers have ormolu loop handles and mask-and-scroll lock plates. The marquetry design of this commode is very typical of French work from the latter years of the 17th and the first years of the 18th century. Various craftsmen such as Boulle, Pierre Gole (1620-1684) and Renaud Gaudron (d.1727) amongst others, were masters of floral marquetry and drew their inspiration and design from Dutch floral paintings by artists such as Jan van Huysum (Amsterdam 1682-1749).
Provenance
Bequest of the estates of Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy made to the National Trust by Henry John Ralph Bankes (1902-1981). NT ownership commenced from 19th August 1982.
Makers and roles
manner of André-Charles Boulle the Elder (1642 - 1732), ébéniste
References
Ronfort 2009: Jean Nérée Ronfort (ed.), André Charles Boulle, 1642-1732 : Un nouveau style pour l’Europe (ex. cat.), Frankfurt 2009