Empire Style Commode, Imported From Egypt And Dating From The 20th Century, Bronzes And Veneer Wood

This 20th century Empire style chest of drawers demonstrates the special care taken in design and aesthetics, drawing inspiration from the splendor of the Napoleonic era while incorporating symbolic elements borrowed from Egypt. Imported from Egypt, it reflects the influence of the Empire style, marked by a pronounced taste for antique references and the use of imposing ornaments, while incorporating motifs specific to ancient Egypt.

Made of veneer wood, this chest of drawers opens with four drawers, two of which are large in the center. These central drawers are decorated with finely crafted marquetry, an art that consists of assembling different types of wood to form decorative motifs. On this chest of drawers, the marquetry features a torch, a symbol of light and knowledge, as well as a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory and honor. This iconographic choice is not insignificant, because it refers directly to the aesthetics and values ​​specific to the Napoleonic era, where references to Antiquity, particularly Roman and Egyptian, were omnipresent.

One of the most striking features of this piece is the presence of two Egyptian bronze figures. These finely sculpted ornaments represent two Egyptian women, one seated and the other reclining. These figures recall the 19th century craze for Egypt, a taste reinforced by the Egyptian campaign led by Napoleon Bonaparte at the end of the 18th century, which had initiated in Europe a real fascination for the art and culture of this ancient civilization. These figures are placed on either side of the chest of drawers, thus emphasizing the balance of the composition while giving it a majestic and exotic appearance.

The uprights of the chest of drawers are also covered in bronze, a noble material often used in the Empire style to emphasize the richness and refinement of the furniture. This bronze coating, in addition to its decorative aspect, also adds a touch of solidity and durability to the structure. The legs of the chest of drawers, for their part, are particularly remarkable for their lion's paw shape, another classic reference that reinforces the link with Antiquity. The lion's paws, symbols of strength and power, add a sense of stability and robustness to the whole, while offering a striking contrast with the finesse of the marquetry and other bronze ornaments.

Another distinctive element of this chest of drawers is its thick marble top, in a sea green color. This precious and elegant marble is a material often used in Empire style furniture, especially for chests of drawers and other storage furniture, as it gives a feeling of luxury while being extremely durable. The choice of sea green for the marble brings a subtle touch of color, while creating a harmonious contrast with the golden tones of the bronze and the warm hues of the wood. In addition, the marble provides a smooth and resistant surface, ideal for the upper part of a piece of furniture intended for the display of precious or decorative objects.

The attention to detail and symmetry, typical of the Empire style, is found in the arrangement of the various decorative elements of this chest of drawers. The Egyptian figures, the lion's paw feet, the bronze-covered uprights and the central marquetry respond harmoniously, creating a whole that is both elegant and imposing. The Empire style, characterized by its use of antique elements and its search for grandeur, is perfectly represented here, with a touch of exoticism linked to the Egyptian influence.

This chest of drawers, with its finely worked bronze ornaments, its refined marquetry patterns and its sea green marble top, embodies both the decorative richness and the formal rigor of the Empire style. Its Egyptian character, marked by female figures and references to Napoleonic campaigns, makes it a remarkable piece, both evocative of an era fascinated by Antiquity and representative of the taste for luxury and historical symbolism of the 20th century.

This beautiful chest of drawers is available for sale in my shop at 57 rue Victor Hugo, 76000 Rouen

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