A Louis XV ormolu-mounted lacquer commode circa 1745-49, stamped I. Dubois, the mounts struck with the C couronné poinçon

with a molded serpentine-fronted brèche d'Alep marble top above two drawers sans traverse, raised on cabriole legs; fitted with voluted leaf-cast ormolu handles and chutes continuing to ormolu sabots, the front and the sides decorated with landscape panels of chinoiserie lacquer incorporating pavilions, trees and flowering branches in gilt and red on a black ground.

Jacques Dubois (1694-1763, maître in 1742)

Jacques Dubois was one of the most important ébénistes of the Louis XV period and, arguably, one of the most prolific.  He produced luxury furniture frequently incorporating Chinese or Japanese lacquer, largely consisting of secrétaires, bureaux and commodes.  Unlike many of his contemporaries, he was not dependent upon the patronage of the powerful and influential marchands-merciers, although he did occasionally supply pieces to Léger Bertin, François Machart and Deyle-François Labrunne, as well as the marchand-ébéniste Pierre Migeon.  Dubois largely cultivated his own exclusive roster of aristocratic clients and supplied his furniture directly to them.

The inventory taken after Dubois' death in 1763 reveals a large workshop with no fewer than 12 workbenches and approximately 125 pieces of furniture in production.  It is of considerable interest to note that of these, only four were commodes.  The majority of the pieces consisted of writing tables, secrétaires en pente, and a variety of small tables.  The inventory listed only a very few pieces which incorporated lacquer panels, this is explained by the fact that the supply of lacquer panels was very largely dominated by the marchands merciers. 

The lacquer commodes produced by Dubois echo the same attention to quality as paid to his small secretaires.  They vary in the degree to which he applied ormolu mounts, some of them being completely outlined with ormolu borders and other, like the present example, leaving the lacquer decoration to speak for itself, embellished only with light, delicate drawer handles on the front, and pierced light chutes continuing to the bound mounts which continue to the feet.  The presence of the 'C Couronné poinçon', (Crowned C) on the mounts on this commode date it to the period 1745-49.  Interestingly another commode by Dubois (sold, Christie's, London, December 7, 1995, lot 70) is fitted with identical chutes, also stamped with the Crowned C, indicating that this was a model he was favoring during that period; it is also fitted with different, but equally light, delicate ormolu drawer handles and nearly identical apron mount.