An Important 19Th Century French Henry Dasson Commode In The Louis XVI Style

An Important French Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Commode in the Louis XVI Style by Henry Dasson (1825-1896) after the design in 1788 for the Kings Cabinet at Saint-Cloud by ebeniste Adam Weisweiller through the marchand-mercier Dominic Daguerre.

French Paris, Circa 1880

The commode is conceived in the breakfront manner with three panelled doors, behind which is a single shelf. The piece stands on six toupie feet with fluted detailing and parcel gilding. Veneered throughout in highly figured mahogany of exceptional faded colour and adorned with a series of bronze gilt mounts of exceptional quality in both their casting and their chasing. Dasson prided himself on the quality of the mounts used on his pieces having trained as a sculptor and therefore been familiar with the medium and its chasing from the very start of his career. His workshop flourished for a relatively short period of some 30-40 years but its influence on his competitors and followers was long lasting and he won awards for the quality of his work at at which he exhibited such as at the 1878 and 1889 Expositions in Paris. The international jury of 1878 awarded Dasson's work a gold medal; following the exhibition of decorative arts in 1882, he obtained a gold medal recall and was knighted to the Legion of Honour.

Henry Dasson was considered one of the finest makers go gilt bronze mounted furniture in the nineteenth century, his workshop was in the heart of Paris 106 rue Vielle-du-Temple where he specialised in creating pieces with reproducing or closely inspired by the masterpieces of the Louis XV and XVI periods. In 1871, Dasson purchased Charles-Guillaume Winckelsen’s business and remaining stock.

This commode demonstrates his unerring eye for quality and design. The inset white marble top with grey and black veining is carefully chosen to balance the grandeur of the gilt mounts surrounding it. The mounts are numerous and all are exceptional. Ranging from gadrooned applied borders around the marble to leaf form capitals on the pilasters and rectangular mounts around the panelling on the doors, each is a masterpiece of design. Undoubtedly the most striking mounts are the Bacchanals on the frieze with goats, putti and Bacchic masks surrounded by grapes, vines and foliage. These mounts are highly naturalistic and the standard of chasing and finishing is exemplary. Some of the mounts are stamped HD Henry Dasson signature stamp.

This model of commode is regarded not only as one of Weisweiler's crowning glories but also one of Dasson's most effective pieces as well. The original is today on view at the Château de Compiègne along with others having slight variations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a pair at the Louvre.

Our commode retains its original key which is a wonderful miniature work of art in its own right with its finely cast and chased finish, with the original fluer-de-lis locks.

Attention to detail was highly important to Dasson and his workshop and this attitude is exemplified by this remarkable piece of furniture. The Dasson versions of this model are discussed in detail by Christopher Payne in his Paris Furniture: The Luxury Market of the 19th Century (p.216).

To summaries an exceptional commode by one the master of 19th Century French bronze gilt furniture, in my eyes his best model as just pure elegance and not too busy. Our commode having one of the best colours I have seen off this model and in excellent original condition. Certainly one for the discerning client and collector.

Width: 57 1/2 inches - 146cm
Height: 36 inches - 91.5cm
Depth: 23 1/2 inches - 59cm