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Lot Essay
With its extraordinary première-partie inlay, exceptional bronze mounts and elegant shaped form, this commode bears many of the hallmarks of works by the celebrated early-eighteenth century cabinet maker, Nicolas Sageot (maître in 1706). Though unsigned, the present lot closely relates to a commode in The Wallace Collection (F39) attributed to Sageot whose inlaid top, sides and mask-form escutcheons are nearly identical to those on the present piece and whose drawers, though inlaid in contre partie, strongly resemble those on the present lot. The spectacular panels represent the birth of Venus on the top and dancing musicians on the side and are based, in both cases, on designs by Jean Berain (1640-1711), Dessinateur de la chambre et du cabinet du Roi. Berain's decorative compositions proved a fertile source for marquetry designs for furniture makers of the period, and are here sumptuously rendered, replete with scrolling arabesques, delicately perched cherubs and exotic birds.
Further comparisons between the present lot and other works by Sageot can be drawn with a commode by the maker with Galerie Jean Gismondi whose shaped drawer fronts closely resemble those on the present lot, illustrated P. Ramond, André-Charles BOULLE Ébéniste, Ciseleur & Marqueteur Ordinaire du Roy, Turin, 2011, pg. 151. In addition, the escutcheons on the present commode are nearly identical to those on another by Sageot sold Christie's, London, 5 July 2012, lot 8. As explained in the Wallace catalogue, a firm attribution to Sageot cannot be made for their commode because of the ébéniste's association with marqueteur, Toussaint Devoye, who likely worked with several cabinet makers of that era (see P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, vol. II, cat. 137 (F39), pp. 638-643). While the same could be said of the present commode, by all standards, its construction, inlay and decoration distinguish it as a fine example of Louis XIV cabinet production, and evoke Sageot's oeuvre.
Further comparisons between the present lot and other works by Sageot can be drawn with a commode by the maker with Galerie Jean Gismondi whose shaped drawer fronts closely resemble those on the present lot, illustrated P. Ramond, André-Charles BOULLE Ébéniste, Ciseleur & Marqueteur Ordinaire du Roy, Turin, 2011, pg. 151. In addition, the escutcheons on the present commode are nearly identical to those on another by Sageot sold Christie's, London, 5 July 2012, lot 8. As explained in the Wallace catalogue, a firm attribution to Sageot cannot be made for their commode because of the ébéniste's association with marqueteur, Toussaint Devoye, who likely worked with several cabinet makers of that era (see P. Hughes, The Wallace Collection Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, vol. II, cat. 137 (F39), pp. 638-643). While the same could be said of the present commode, by all standards, its construction, inlay and decoration distinguish it as a fine example of Louis XIV cabinet production, and evoke Sageot's oeuvre.