Exceptional Louis XV Period Chest Of Drawers, Attributable To Mathieu Criaerd.

This rare and precious piece of furniture is a Parisian work from the Louis XV period, dating from the middle of the 18th century, this curved chest of drawers opening with 2 doors has a high quality oak frame and an interesting end grain marquetry on a rosewood background in amaranth frames. The quality of the manufacturing of the frame, the elegance of the curves and the faceted feet, the technique of end grain marquetry as well as the bronze chest lock are all elements characteristic of the luxurious productions of the middle of the 18th century. A true collector's piece of furniture, our chest of drawers is in a very interesting state of conservation, with original marble and locks, not enriched with bronze in the 19th century, it is presented as it was designed, giving pride of place to the end grain marquetry, very fashionable in the years 1745-55, propelled in particular by Bernard Van Riesen Burgh (1769-1767), a simple keyhole in the form of a thread cut into the wood protects the hole while two very refined bronze shoes without decoration protect the front feet. This chest of drawers with doors is attributable to Mathieu Criaerd (1689-1776), a prolific Parisian cabinetmaker born in Brussels around 1689, present in Paris at least from 1721, his workshop was a real success, the excellence of his work earned him work for the Crown through Gaudreaus and the merchant Hébert, then Joubert. It is interesting to note that some furniture supplied to the Crown by Gaudreaus is devoid of bronze, such as that for Marly, with in particular bronze sabots identical to our piece of furniture on the sloping secretary of the retirement cabinet of Queen Marie Leczinska in Marly (no. 1024) delivered in 1733, preserved in the collections of the Louvre Museum. Sources: "Antoine Robert Gaudreaus, cabinetmaker to Louis XV" by Daniel Alcouffe, Elisabéth Grall and Jean Perfettini published by Faton. Dimensions on marble: Height: 88.5 cm Width at the back: 129.5 cm Depth in the middle: 49.5 cm