Louis XV style chest of drawers in black lacquer and gilded bronze – Late 19th / Early 20th century.

An interesting and decorative Louis XV style chest of drawers with curved fronts and sides, crafted in the late 19th or early 20th century, in the tradition of the great Parisian master cabinetmakers of the 18th century. Entirely mounted on an oak frame, it is covered with a rich black lacquer decoration featuring a gilded floral and bird motif, inspired by Far Eastern lacquers that were prized since the Regency period, and enriched with finely chiseled gilt bronzes.

Comparative Analysis:

This type of furniture is part of the tradition of Chinese-inspired lacquer chests of drawers, very fashionable in the 18th century and popularized by prestigious cabinetmakers such as:

Jacques Dubois: known for his Chinese or Japanese lacquer chests of drawers, with very prominent rocaille uprights, adorned with rich gilt bronzes.

Bernard II van Risamburgh (BVRB): Famous for his floral and bird lacquer decorations and the quality of his bronze mounts. The overall shape of this commode and its sinuous frames are very similar to certain BVRB pieces preserved at the Louvre or the Getty Museum.
 
Joseph Baumhauer: Active under Louis XV, he is renowned for his black or red lacquer furniture with plant or exotic scenes and lush bronzes.
 
 
Here we find the same desire to recreate the refined exoticism of these pieces, in a historicist spirit typical of the Napoleon III style and the Belle Époque, a period during which Parisian cabinetmakers and merchants—such as Tahan, Beurdeley, and Durand—reissued or reinterpreted models from the previous century for a bourgeois and international clientele.
 
 
Decorative Details and Materials:
 
Polished black lacquer, inlaid with a gilded floral and plant decoration punctuated with exotic birds, butterflies, and branches reminiscent of Japanese prints.
 
Chiseled gilt bronzes: decorated with acanthus leaves, scrolls, shells, and rocaille frames, particularly elaborate on the uprights and lower crosspiece.
 
Corbin marble, perfectly suited to the curves of the frame.
 
The lacquerwork and the bronze design demonstrate remarkable technical mastery. This piece of furniture can be compared to certain models produced by Alphonse Giroux or Maison Millet, two great Parisian cabinetmaking houses known for their prestigious commissions in the style of the Antique.
 
 
Condition:
Very good overall condition. The piece of furniture is in good condition, the lacquer is well preserved with very legible decoration. The bronzes are screwed in, and the marble is in perfect condition. Minimal and perfectly integrated antique restorations.

A rare, decorative, and historical piece, perfect for a collectible interior or a charming French-style decor. This type of furniture, at the crossroads of European and Far Eastern influences, embodies the refinement of a taste for the exotic and the prestige of the French art of living.

Ref: C66FEXOYJF