Object Description
This is a gorgeous antique pair of Italian Venetian walnut and giltwood serpentine bombe’ commodes, dating from the late 19th century.
These three-drawer bombe’ commodes are crafted from the most beautiful walnut, have oak lined drawers and feature exquisite carved giltwood decoration.
They shaped burr walnut tops have walnut cross banding with boxwood and satinwood diamond stringing, and the commodes feature the original water gilded decoration. The serpentine front and the bombe’ sides feature burr walnut shaped panels surrounded by exuberantly carved floral and foliate gilded raised decoration.
The commodes are raised upon slightly splayed cabriole legs.
Complete with the original working locks and keys.
Add a touch of elegance to a special room in your home with this superb pair of antique commodes.
Condition:
In excellent condition having been beautifully cleaned, polished and waxed in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.
Dimensions in cm:
Height 92 x Width 116 x Depth 63
Dimensions in inches:
Height 3 foot x Width 3 foot, 10 inches x Depth 2 feet, 1 inch
Giltwood
There is no doubt that giltwood furniture is an expression of grandeur and luxury. The golden hue of these pieces comes from the application of real gold leaf—a highly valued material both then and now. When it comes to buying antique giltwood furniture for your collection, there are many different considerations to keep in mind, many of which come down to personal preference.
Origins of Giltwood
The gilt gesso technique appeared in England at the end of the seventeenth century with the work of Jean Pelletier, a Huguenot craftsman who received royal patronage at Hampton Court and Kensington Palace. James Moore, a royal cabinetmaker working in the early eighteenth century, expanded on this technique with increased drama and exaggeration to the carving. Throughout the Georgian era in the eighteenth century, gilded furniture was highly prized as some of the finest furniture available as it emulated the ever popular taste for French style and décor.
The Technique
Gesso is a type of plaster that is prepared of finely ground chalk, applied onto the wooden surface in a series of layers—at least fifteen layers were needed to achieve the desired thickness. Once dried, the craftsmen could cut into the new surface to create different designs. When the designs were complete, the gilding could be applied. To gild the surface, a red clay ground, known as bole, would be spread onto the surface to prepare for the laying of the gold leaf.
Our reference: A2691