A fine gilt-bronze mounted kingwood and parquetry commode by Jacques-Philippe Carel Louis XV, circa 1745

with a later mottled peach, grey and white marble top, above two serpentine drawers mounted with a gilt-bronze foliate scroll and rocaille cartouche, with serpentine sides, on cabriole legs terminating in gilt-bronze scrolled feet, the whole inlaid with trellis parquetry within a border of fruitwood stringing; mounts regilt

French and Continental Furniture and Works of Art, Partridge Fine Arts PLC, 2001, no. 15, pp. 40-41, illustrated.

Colour of gilt mounts less green and more golden and the wood is less orange and more natural and attractive than in the catalogue photograph. Some very minor chips to the rear edge of the marble top which are not too noticeable. A couple of minor areas of infill. At the front of the wooden carcass at the top there has been an added piece which appears later. There are some very miniscule restorations to the veneer which are so well executed they are hardly noticeable. Superb quality mounts both in terms of casting and chasing. This piece is in overall very good conserved condition. Can be placed immediately. 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:
Theodore Dell, Furniture in the The Frick Collection, Vol V, Vermont, 1992, p. 270-271.
Alexandre Pradère, French Furniture Makers, the Art of the ébéniste from Louis XIV to the Revolution, Tours, 1989, p. 141, fig. 108, p.142, figs. 110-112.

This elegant commode with its elaborately scrolled whiplash rococo mounts and fine trelliswork parquetry bears strong similarities to other pieces by this maker. Pradère, op. cit.,p. 142, figs. 110 and 112, illustrates two commodes one attributed to and the other stamped by Carel (Swedish Royal Collection, Drottningholm), with the same trellis parquetry as is found on this commode. He also illustrates op. cit., p. 142, fig. 111, an encoignure in the same trellis parquetry stamped by Carel and I.D.F 

There is a commode in bois de boût floral marquetry stamped Carel c.1755, with identical knee mounts and a cartouche on the front conceived in a similar vein to that upon this commode, in the Frick Collection, New York, illustrated by Dell, op. cit., pp. 281. Dell, op. cit., p. 272, states that the illustrated commode forms part of a large group of similar commodes all of which have the same basic shape and very similar mounts, although they are stamped by a number of different ébénistes. He also suggests that they must have all been made for an as yet unidentified marchand-mercier who commissioned the mounts and contracted out the pieces` to be surfaced with the type of veneer at which each individual ébéniste excelled'. Various commodes of this group are stamped Boudin, Latz and Criaerd amongst others.

Also see a commode with identical corner mounts and a virtually identical gilt-bronze cartouche on the front, sold from the Alexander collection, lot 109, Christie's, New York, 30th April 1999.  

Jacques-Philippe Carel received Master  1723; active until about 1750. He produced high quality veneered furniture either in parquetry or end-cut floral marquetry. On at least one occasion he supplied furniture to the Royal cabinet-maker, Antoine-Robert Gaudreau for delivery to the Crown.