A pair of Italian mother-of-pearl inlaid tulipwood, kingwood, ebony, rosewood, parquetry and marquetry commodes, Neapolitan circa 1770

each of bombé serpentine form, with a later engraved red tinted white carrara marble top with the coat-of-arms of the princely families of the De Cardine-Pignatelli surmounted by a Princely Coronet and beneath an ermine baldacchino with boldly scrolling foliage, above two long drawers concealing secret drawers inlaid with a stylised rosette within a c-scroll cartouche within borders of c-scrolls above a shaped apron inlaid with a stylised scallopshell, on splayed legs with gilt-bronze scrolled feet, one marble top bearing the signature `Celebrano' and dated 1774  

In overall good conserved condition. They can be placed immediately. The colour of the veneer is less orange and the tops are slightly paler and more natural and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. The marquetry is very good quality. The teeth of the mask on the top drawer are in ivory and there is some brass inlay aswell. Marble tops with old very minor marks, chips and scratches and one top has a minor crack in front left area and near right centre of back edge. Very minor chips to edges of both. Minor wear to gilded border of one top which is visible in the photograph and can easily be touched up and there is a water mark to one top but this can be repolished. There are some very minor losses to veneer and moulding which can easily be restored and some very minor lifting of brass-98% of the inlay is in excellent condition. The gilt-bronze feet are a little dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. There are some hairline construction cracks at the joints and other scattered age cracks which can easily be filled or left as they do not detract from the piece. There is evidence of previous locks internally by the secret drawers and some of the secret drawers are missing there pulls and some pulls have been replaced with pink ribbon. Also some sliding covers on a few of the secret drawers are missing but not all could be inspected as the slides are stiff and will need easing. Maurizio Agnelli and Edi Baccheschi, Mobili Italiani del Settecento, Milan, 1990, p. 23 One is illustrated.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparative Literature:
Enrico Colle, Il mobile in Rococò in Italia: Arredi e Decorazioni d'interni dal 1738 Al 1775, Milan, 2003, pp. 70, 71, 72. 
Antonella Putaturo Murano, Il Mobile Napoletano del Settecento, Naples, 1977, p. Tav. XVIIIb.  

This important and magnificent pair of Neapolitan commodes are for their size almost certainly the best pair of parquetry commodes recorded to date. There is only one other recorded pair of similar quality with elaborate parquetry now in Palazzo Barberini, Rome, one of which is illustrated by Colle op. cit., p. 72.

This pair of commodes relate to other examples being produced in Naples in around the 1770's, for example, two commodes illustrated by Colle op. cit., p. 70 (one sold in these Rooms, 10th June 1999, lot 93) and p. 71, which bear similarities to the offered pair in respect of the use of exotic woods and the design of the parquetry runs over the full surface of the drawers in different coloured woods. The possible makers for this magnificent pair of commodes include Antonio Ross, a German and Giovanni Bali, circa 1760, who is described as making marquetry in the German style. The extensive secret drawers in both commodes indicates make these a particularly fine example and the quality of the craftsmanship can be seen in their construction.

The coat-of-arms on the marble tops which have been tinted red and engraved is of the De Cardine (the Cardenes of Aragonese origin), an old Neapolitan aristocratic family and Princes of the Holy Roman Empire.