Marquetry And Gilt Bronze Mounted Marble Top Commode

An important Louis XVI transitional French marquetry and gilt bronze mounted 18th Century Commode after Roussel.

This exceptional oak frame commode is presented with the original brêche d'alep marble-top above a breakfront frieze set over 3 drawers. The central marquetry panel of a typical 18th century French rural landscape set out in tropical wood veneer. The apron and uppermost drawer mounted with finely cast swag, entwined rings and foliage, set upon the cabriole legs mounted on scrolled sabots.

Attributed to Pierre Roussel.

Width (widest point of legs) 132cm x Height (including marble top) 93cm x Depth (including marble top) 53cm

Marble top thickness 3cm

Height (excluding marble top) 90cm x Depth (excluding marble top) 51.5cm

Inner Drawers 113.5cm Width x 44cm Depth

Main Marquetry Panel 48.5cm Width x 44cm Depth

Height from Floor to lowest point 28cm

Feet Width Apart 131.5cm

*Pierre Roussel (1723 - 7 June 1782) was a successful cabinetmaker from Paris. He was joined in his extensive business by his two sons, Pierre-Michel (master in 1766) and Pierre le jeune (master in 1771).

Roussel's stamp, with its’ fleur de lis between the P and ROUSSEL, is often seen, but such quantities of goods made by others, both new and old, passed through the shop, and so much cabinetwork from Roussel's workshop was sold and stamped by other marchands-ébénistes, that it is not easy to recognize any consistent sequence of characteristic styles, characteristic constructions, gilt-bronze mounts unique to his shop or marquetry. Consequently Roussel is often credited with a wide-ranging stylistic approach.

The elder Roussel's father was a simple compagnon, a journeyman cabinetmaker working for a master ébéniste. Four of Roussel's brothers were menuisiers, working on carved seat furniture and room paneling. He married Marie-Antoinette Fontaine in 1743 and was received as a master cabinetmaker in the Paris guild, 21 August 1745.

From modest beginnings, by the 1760s Roussel worked himself to the top of his profession: he was appointed a juré in 1762 and by 1780 and had held other offices in the Corporation des Menuisiers-Ébénistes.

Among his grand later patrons was the Prince de Condé, who made considerable purchases for the Palais Bourbon  and the Chȃteau de Chantilly between 1775 and 1780.  At the time of his death, the inventory was compiled by a noted ébéniste, Jean-François Leleu and Jean-Baptiste Cochois.

There were at least three workshops, a store-room (magasin) and a retail shop (boutique). A number of pieces were lacquered, and six lacquer panels and marquetry was mentioned, geometric, floral and landscape. There were also marble tops, and a stock of veneers. 

*various sources.

Notes on this piece:

The brêche d'alep marble-top is entirely complete and in excellent order, there are areas of historic restoration.

Frame, back and drawers are of oak construction.

This Commode has two fully working locks and both keys are present and in good order.

There are makers marks on the rear corners but are too worn to be legible.

More photos and videos of this piece can be supplied upon request.

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