Object Description
This fine, delicately ornamented commode was built by French designers Myrtil Dennery and Paul Alexandre who were active in the early 20th Century, after the 18th Century model by celebrated French cabinetmaker Jean-Francois Leleu (French, 1729-1807). The commode is of rectangular shape with a slightly curved front, and sits on four cylindrical feet which are capped with ormolu. The body of the commode comprises three drawers. The lower two drawers are distinguished by subtle parquetry panels and are bordered with ormolu with circular ormolu handles. The upper drawer is the shallowest, and concealed by a frieze panel that is decorated with delicate, scrolling flowers in ormolu. To each end of the commode there are panels of parquetry bordered in ormolu to the lower section and further friezes of scrolling flowers to the upper section. The top of the commode is formed from veined, white marble.
The back of one of the drawer locks is stamped ‘Duvivier/Paris/71 Fg St Antoine,’ stencilled ‘Fabrique de meubles / Myrtil Dennery & P. Alexandre / Paul Alexandre Succr./64 Faubourg St Antoine, 64 Paris (…)’