Skip to main content

Commode

Attributed (French, active ca. 1761-1782)
ClassificationsDECORATIVE ARTS
Date1760-1770
Mediumoak caracass veneered with kingwood, tulipwood, boxwood, and sycamore; gilt bronze mounts; bleu tigré marble top.
Dimensions34 1/2 x 65 7/16 x 28 9/16 in. (87.6 x 166.2 x 72.5 cm.)
SignedDuveen label: C5734. Writing on carcass in pencil: Repolished by Thomas H [or K?] Monbro May 10, 1856. Paper label: J. Chenue / French Packer / 16, Great St. Andrew Street / Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.. The customer's name, Founes, is inscribed on the label in ink.
InscribedLabel on inside, top drawer "C5734".
MarkingsWriting on inside of top: "Repolished by ________ May 10, 1856" also "1855 Thomas H or K"
Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The Arabella D. Huntington Memorial Art Collection.
Label TextThis commode is similar to one displayed across the room. Although the two commodes appear to be identical, significant differences in construction and decoration suggest that they were made by different cabinetmakers employed in the workshop of Joseph Schmitz. By 1926, they had been paired by the art dealer Joseph Duveen, who could command a higher price for a matched set. Duveen was the principal dealer for Henry and Arabella Huntington.


Status
On view
Object number27.118
Commode
Joseph Schmitz
1760-1770
Object number: 27.124
Fall-front Secretary
Bernard Molitor
secretary: 1812-1816; plaques: center:1783, left:1774, right:1777
Object number: 27.22
Fall-Front Desk
Pierre Roussel
ca. 1760
Object number: 78.20.63
Chest of Drawers
Martin Carlin
ca. 1775
Object number: 11.31
Fall-front secretary
Martin Carlin
ca. 1775
Object number: 11.32
Writing Table
Bernard Molitor
ca.1788-1796
Object number: 16.12
Small Upright Writing Cabinet
Pierre Roussel
1760-1770
Object number: 27.101
Photography © 2015 Fredrik Nilsen
Martin Carlin
1781
Object number: 27.20
Desk
Joseph Baumhauer
ca. 1763
Object number: 27.132
Writing Desk
Charles Cressent
1723-1730
Object number: 27.18
Writing table
Joseph Baumhauer
ca. 1765 with mid 19th Century alterations
Object number: 27.137
Chest of Drawers
Unknown
1740-1760, with later alterations
Object number: 78.20.61