A gilt-bronze-mounted kingwood and parquetry commode à encoignures stamped Criaerd Louis XV, circa 1740

of serpentine form with a moulded brèche d'alep marble top above two short and two long drawers with a door in each side enclosing two shelves, on squat cabriole legs terminating in scrolled feet, the whole inlaid with trellis parquetry and with gilt-bronze scrolled foliate and rocaille cast mounts throughout

Colour overall less orange and the mounts are more golden and much more attractive than in the catalogue photograph. Associated top. Old minor marks, chips and scratches to marble top commensurate with age which are hardly noticeable. There are some minor sections of veneer missing and also lifting as visible from photograph. Some very minor restorations to veneer which have been well executed and some minor replacements. Gilt-bronze mounts slightly dirty and would benefit from a light clean according to taste. Very fine casting to mounts. The mounts have been cleaned in the past. The inside of the left door has possibly been partially reveneered. There is a hairline construction crack on both doors which can easily be filled. The inside of the doors where the shelves are has been stained red. In overall good original condition.
"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:
B. Langer and H. Ottomeyer, Die Französischen Möbel des 18. Jahrhunderts, Munich, 1995, Vol. I, p. 89.
D.Meyer, Versailles, Furniture of the Royal Palace, 17^th and 18^th Centuries, Volume I, Dijon, 2002, p. 61.
A. Pradère, French Furniture Makers, Tours, 1989, p. 225.

The form of this commode with its flaring sides with a door or encoignure and elaborate rocaille gilt-bronze mounts all on a parquetry trelliswork ground, found favour in the second quarter of the 18th century.

According to Pradère, op. cit., p. 225, `another of Criaerd's specialities were the commodes in kingwood parquetry forming trellis and diamond pattern. Nearly all the recorded commodes by Mathieu are of this type and it is most likely to be the work of Mathieu...' rather than his son Antoine Criaerd. Mathieu produced luxurious furniture of serpentine form with lavish gilt-bronze mounts. During the 1740's, Mathieu worked for the marchand- mercier Hébert who supplied furniture to the Garde-Meuble Royal. His stamp is found on several sumptuous pieces supplied by Hébert during this period to the Royal residences. The majority of Mathieu Criaerd's production was commodes in the Louis XV style. 

The shape of this imposing commode and the apron mount take inspiration from a drawing by Bernard II van Risamburgh, illustrated by Langer and Ottomeyer, op. cit., p. 89, (Staatsarchiv Munich). BVRB is the most well-known of the ébénistes who produced commodes of this form, although other imposing commodes with doors or encoignures were also produced by another celebrated ébéniste Charles Cressent.

A lavishly mounted commode of similar form, by BVRB, was sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's, New York, 30th April 1999, lot 100.

Mathieu Criaerd (1689-1776) received Master 1738.
He came from a Flemish family of furniture makers working in Paris during the reign of Louis XV. Criaerd opened his workshop in the rue Saint-Nicolas later moving to rue Traversière. Between 1755-1765, he worked for Gilles Joubert who succeeded Hébert as supplier to the Garde-Meuble.