A GILT-BRONZE MOUNTED AND PARQUETRY COMMODE, STAMPED PH MEWESEN AND JME, CREATED FOR THE CHAMBER OF THE COUNTESS D’ARTOIS IN THE CASTLE OF FONTAINEBLEAU LOUIS XVI, LATE 18TH CENTURY

veneered in rosewood and amaranth, the rectangular red Rance marble top with canted corners, the front accommodating three short and two long drawers, applied with mounts of gilt bronze, the top panel of the carcass inscribed in ink Mr le Dauphin, erased inventory number (probably the number given by the Journal du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne) and Fontainebleau inventory numbers: crowned F..N.. 74 / 2

- The Countess d’Artois, from her chamber in the castle of Fontainebleau, 1787

- The Anton Philips Collection (1874-1951), Eindhoven, The Netherlands, thence by descent

- The Frits Philips Collection (1905-2005), Eindhoven, The Netherlands, thence by descent to the actual owners

Apparently one of a pair, this unusual and elegant commode can be found precisely described as follows in the inventory of 1787 at Fontainebleau, in the chamber of the Countess d’Artois with the number 174. The location and numbering is substantiated by the inscription on the present commode crowned F and N. (?)74 / 2:

174    Deux commodes de marqueterie ornées de bronze doré à deux grands tiroirs et trois petits dans la frise, les trois panneaux de devant et des deux bouts plaqués en mosaïque de bois rose et violette sur fond gris les champs desdits panneaux en bois rose et filet de bois violette sur fond gris, poignées, entrées, chutes et sabots de bronze doré, dessus de marbre brêche d'Alep, de 4p 1/2 (ANMC O1 3398 F° 109).

The inscription Mr. le Dauphin and the indistinct inventory number lead to number 3238 in the Journal du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne, stated as delivered by Riesener on 26 July, 1783:

3238    Deux commodes de marqueterie à dessus de marbre blanc veiné ayant 5 tiroirs fermant a clef la marqueterie de bois de rose et frise d'amarante formant des compartiments à mosaïque ornées de consolles chutes, rainceaux, moulures et cadres godronnés, entrées de serrure, anneaux socles et sabots le tout de bronze cizelé et doré d'or moulu ayant 4 pieds et 1/2 de large vingt deux pouces de profondeur et 34 pouces de haut.

The unusual features that distinguish the present commode can be found reflected in a small group of commodes, alternatively stamped for Mewesen or Delorme, the latter probably figured as supplier. A nearly identical commode, stamped by Delorme, still retaining the brêche d'Alep marble top and the marquetry of lozenges and roses within the rectangular cartouche, now is preserved in a New York private collection. Together they may have formed the pair described in the inventories above, complementing the fireplace surround in that chamber, also of brêche d'Alep.

Another very similar commode, stamped for Delorme, was sold in Paris, 29 June 1987, lot 97. Smaller commodes but sharing the same unusual features were sold in Paris, 15 December 1927, lot 253, stamped for Delorme, and in New York, 28 October 1960, stamped for Mewesen.