Louis XV Style Chest Of Drawers In Black Lacquer And Gilt Bronze – Late 19th / Early 20th Century.

Interesting and decorative Louis XV style chest of drawers with curved front and sides, made at the end of the 19th century or very beginning of the 20th century, in the tradition of the great Parisian master cabinetmakers of the 18th century. Entirely mounted on an oak frame, it is covered with a rich black lacquer decoration with a gilded floral and bird motif, inspired by Far Eastern lacquers prized since the Regency, and enriched with very fine quality chiseled gilt bronzes. Comparative analysis: This type of furniture is part of the tradition of Chinese-inspired lacquer chests of drawers, very fashionable in the 18th century and popularized by prestigious cabinetmakers such as: Jacques Dubois: known for his Chinese or Japanese lacquer chests of drawers, with very prominent rocaille uprights, decorated with rich gilt bronzes. Bernard II van Risamburgh (BVRB): famous for his floral and bird lacquer decorations and for the quality of his bronze mounts. The general curve of this commode and its sinuous frames are very similar to certain BVRB pieces preserved at the Louvre or the Getty Museum. Joseph Baumhauer: active under Louis XV, he is known for his black or red lacquer furniture with plant or exotic scenes and abundant bronzes. Here we find the same desire to recreate the refined exoticism of these pieces, in a historicist spirit typical of the Napoleon III style and the Belle Époque, a period during which Parisian cabinetmakers and merchants – such as Tahan, Beurdeley or Durand – reissued or interpreted models from the previous century for a bourgeois and international clientele. Decorative details and materials: Polished black lacquer, inlaid with a gilded floral and plant decoration punctuated with exotic birds, butterflies and branches evoking Japanese prints. Chiseled gilded bronzes: decorated with acanthus leaves, scrolls, shells and rocaille frames, particularly developed on the uprights and the lower crosspiece. Marble with bec de corbin, perfectly adapted to the curve of the frame. The lacquer work and the design of the bronzes demonstrate remarkable technical mastery. This piece of furniture can be compared to certain models produced by Alphonse Giroux or Maison Millet, two large Parisian cabinetmaking houses known for their prestigious commissions in the taste of the Old State: Very good general condition. Sound furniture, well-preserved lacquer with very legible decoration. Bronzes fixed by screws, marble in perfect condition. Minimal and perfectly integrated old restorations. A rare, decorative, and historic piece, perfect for a collectible interior or a charming French-style setting. This type of furniture, at the crossroads of European and Far Eastern influences, embodies all the refinement of a taste for the exotic and the prestige of the French art of living.