C.mauter, Large Neoclassical Chest Of Drawers With Scientific Attributes

A rare and interesting chateau chest of drawers of great width, this "à l'anglaise" or "à vantaux" chest of drawers would have been at home in a salon. Half-moon in plan, it features two drawers in the center and a set of flush-mounted casements with the distinctive feature of being glazed (period glass), all resting on 4 sheathed feet and topped with molded white veined marble.
Dating from the Louis XVI period and stamped 2 times C.Mauter for Conrad Mauter, this piece of furniture is built on a satin-finish veneered oak frame. The great care taken in its construction reflects the expertise of its cabinetmaker, who supplied the Count of Artois.
This commode vitrine also features rich and interesting bronze ornamentation, reinforcing the neoclassical style of the piece, with glyphs, rows of pearls, laurel leaves, framing baguettes... all elements taken from ancient architecture.
Of particular note are the 4 finely chased bronze falls that adorn the top of each upright, featuring laurel branches on which hang mirrors and a snake (symbol of prudence but also an attribute of justice), a globe, a book and a square (attributes of the sciences) held in place by passementerie in the form of knotted ribbons terminating in tassels. In our research, we found this model only a few times, and each time on a rich Louis XVI period commode,
-once on a Louis XVI half-moon commode stamped Louis Moreau sold on August 4, 2010 by the Kohn auction house in Cannes under lot number 246 and also presented in "French 18th-century furniture" by Pierre Kjellberg on page 594.
-once on a Louis XVI half-moon commode stamped André-Louis Gilbert, sold on July 5, 2013 by Christie's under lot number 19.
Christie's provides the following information on the falls: "Decorated with elaborate trophies, emblematic of applied science, incorporating a caduceus suspended from a ribbon, a globe, a square and a book, are particularly remarkable. These related mounts by André-Louis Gilbert (maitre in 1777), including a commode in the Frick Collection, New York, it is interesting to note that the same distinctive corner mounts also appear on commodes of similar form and ornamentation by and attributed to Charles Topino (maitre in 1773), and often retailed by the cabinetmaker Léonard Boudin."
This piece of furniture is presented to you in a very fine state of preservation, with its finish which has been refinished enhancing the furniture well.
Our opinion: this piece of furniture is interesting for its size, its stamp by Conrad Mauter, a renowned cabinetmaker of the late 18th century who supplied the Count of Artois and furnished a number of châteaux and princely residences, and the fact that it is veneered in satinwood rather than mahogany as is usually the case, Its rich bronze ornamentation, original with period gilding, and the rarity of the model with glazed side panels with the glass still original, make this a remarkable piece of furniture that will delight any neoclassical enthusiast.
Marble dimensions:
Width: 161 cm
Height: 91 cm
Depth: 58 cm

Ref: RKV706PJX7