Rubestuck - Transition Period Chest Of Drawers In Stamped Marquetry - Breche d'Alep Marble

Beautiful Greek-style chest of drawers in satinwood marquetry in amaranth frames and Greek friezes in green-tinted boxwood. Rich decoration of chiseled and gilded bronzes with lion head corner falls and laurel crowns, lock entries with ribbon knots, apron fall decorated with a mask, lion paw sabots. The chest of drawers opens with 2 large drawers. It has kept its thick original Breche d'Alep marble molded and not cut (overflowing at the back to rest against a low paneling). Very elegant, its proportions are perfect, without any fault of taste. Note the elegant curved feet, reminiscent of the Louis XV style, the rectangular box with projection and the already Louis XVI bronzes. Very beautiful marquetry work, the satin veneered in diamond point. Very beautiful colors remained fresh and very contrasting. The use of a luxury marble, Aleppo Breche, and the very finely chiseled bronzes are a real luxury. Parisian work from the Transition period around 1775. It bears the stamp of François Rubenstuck and the Jurande punch. However, the bronzes are typical of those used by Nicolas Petit (lion heads, masks on the central fall on the drawer). The Carnavalet museum presents a Greek chest of drawers stamped by Nicolas Petit with the same bronzes with lion heads and paws and a satin veneer also in diamond point. Many 18th century cabinetmakers collaborated, one being the seller of the other and vice versa, sometimes with two stamps or sometimes only that of the seller. Although the collaboration of these two great cabinetmakers is poorly documented, we believe that our chest of drawers is an example, probably a work by Petit stamped by Rubenstuck, or a work by Rubenstuck having decorated it with bronzes usually used by Petit. François Rubenstuck (1722-1785), was a Parisian cabinetmaker of German origin. He settled in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine before obtaining his mastery on May 7, 1766. He then moved to rue de la Roquette then rue de Charenton. This meticulous and skillful cabinetmaker unfortunately had a strong penchant for drink and the separation from his wife prevented him from making the most of his talent. If he knew how to adapt easily to the evolution of styles from Louis XV to Louis XVI. Having become a Master in 1761, Nicolas Petit ran his workshop "Au Nom de Jésus" on rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. Active for more than thirty years, his work followed all styles of the 18th century and the quality of his work was quickly recognized. His career began with very refined Louis XV style curved chests of drawers, secretaries, desks, small tables, finely inlaid with flowering branches. With the advent of the "Greek taste" he was inspired by classical art for the decoration of his furniture. His Transition chests of drawers are often decorated with bronze made of two urns topped with drapery and these famous lion head corner falls, like the chest of drawers presented at the Carnavalet Museum in Paris, others are inlaid with geometric or floral motifs. Overall, Nicolas Petit's furniture, with simple and classic decorations, is always tasteful and carefully made. His furniture can be found in the greatest museums. Our beautiful chest of drawers is in excellent condition. Very healthy furniture that has been preserved in good original condition without any accident or major restoration except for old small veneer repairs. It was restored by our cabinetmaker without any compromise in quality with a real traditional tampon varnish. Mercury gilding of the original and well-preserved bronzes. No accidents to report. Length: 126.5cm including the cutout at the back Height: 84.5cm Depth: 57cm