An important and rare pair of gilt-bronze-mounted fruitwood inlaid walnut and marquetry commodes by Johann Friedrich and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler, Berlin circa 1760-1765

each of serpentine bombé form with a mottled liver, grey and white moulded marble top above two long drawers centred by a cartouche with a floral spray amongst scrolls, rocaille and acanthus, the mounts with stylised Greek-key motif with trails of husks, with similarly inlaid sides on cabriole legs terminating in gilt-bronze scrolled rocaille feet; some minor differences in construction



 

Fischer-Böhler,  Munich, 1978

Colour less yellow and slightly darker overall and mounts less green than in the catalogue photograph and more impressive in reality. Both commodes are slightly faded and would benefit from a re-polish according to taste. Also the marquetry could be restored to bring the contrast of colours back. Some minor lifting of the veneer which is commensurate with age and can easily be reglued. Old very minor marks, chips, and pitting to the marble tops. One top has minor areas of infill. There are some old minor restorations to marquetry, with areas of infill, and there are minor patches to the veneer which have been very well-executed. There is evidence of old minor worm, which appears to be no longer active. One of the tops appears to have been reblocked beneath the marble. There is a minor restoration beneath the lockplate of the top drawer of both internally. An exceptional pair of commodes by this leading German maker which can be placed immediately. Very impressive and highly attractive lot. Highly Recommended.
"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:
H. Kreisel, Die Kunst Des Deutschen Möbels, Spatbarok und Rokoko, Vol.II,  Munich, 1968, pl. 793.
Sigrid Sangl, `Spindler', Furniture History Journal, Leeds, 1991, pp. 22-34.
The form of these elegant commodes with their serpentine bombé shape, deep apron and floral marquetry panels within scroll and rocaille cartouches is typical of the oeuvre of Johann Friedrich and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler around the years 1760-1765. They are according to Sangl, op. cit., ..`.firmly established as the Court cabinet-makers of Frederick the Great, as among the leading craftsmen to have worked in that special variant of the rococo style practised at his Court'.

It is worthwhile considering a related commode circa 1760/68 by the Spindler brothers, illustrated by Kreisel, op. cit., plate 793, in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich, reproduced here in fig.1.

In 1764, the Spindler brothers, (Johann–the elder, Heinrich-the younger), who had originally been based at the Court in Bayreuth, arrived in Berlin. Some of the commodes in the Neues Palais at Potsdam are the work of the younger Spindler and he was the more important cabinet-maker of the two. They enjoyed great freedom at Potsdam compared to their work for Court at Bayreuth. They worked with Michael Kambly who provide luxurious gilt-bronze mounts on their furniture and they used their skills as marqueteurs to their full potential. 

According to Sangl, op. cit., p. 28, `Their furniture, above all their commodes, can only be understood as a collective product of the bronze-maker and sculptor Kambly and the Spindler brothers'. Often the mounts were applied which obscured the design of the marquetry so it was not always a collaboration.

Two pairs of commodes by the Spindler brothers have floral marquetry within cartouches of very similar design, although one pair by Johann Friedrich, circa 1763, in the Red Damask Room, Neues Palais, Potsdam, has a cartouche in gilt-bronze, one of which is illustrated by Sangl, op. cit., p. 39, fig, 12, reproduced here in fig. 2 . The other pair are in marquetry (these commodes were owned by Frederick the Great's Minister of State, Prince Reuss Heinrich).   

A comparable floral marquetry commode with a marble top attributed to the Spindler brothers was sold Christie's, London, 10^th December 1992, lot 145.

A related commode by the Spindler brothers was also offered as the Property from Aristocratic Families, Sotheby's Amsterdam, 29^th-30^th October 2007, lot 355.

Johann Friedrich (1726-after 1799) and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler (1738-after 1799):
They were the celebrated German furniture makers born in Bayreuth and were known for their work at Potsdam. They were the sons of Johann (1691-1770) and the brothers of Jakob (1724-92) with whom they collaborated in executing marquetry panelling for a room at Schloss Fanatsie at Donndorf near Bayreuth from 1762 onwards. In 1764, they went to Potsdam, where they executed some very fine furniture for Frederick the Great usually decorated with floral marquetry in the French style but usually incorporating German rococo architectural elements.They set up their workshop in Berlin in 1776 which was still active in 1799.

We would like to thank Dr. Sigrid Sangl, Head Curator of Furniture and Works of Art, at the Bayerisches National Museum in Munich, for her confirmation of the attrribution of these commodes to Spindler together with the previous lot.