A walnut, burr walnut and fruitwood marquetry serpentine commode, attributed to Johann Friedrich and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler Bayreuth, circa 1765

the moulded edged top with a cartouche inlaid with marquetry figures in a rural landscape and flanked by two further parquetry inlaid cartouches, the two long drawers with a central cartouche depicting bathers by a waterfall in a montainous landscape, on moulded cabriole legs.

In overall very charming, authentic and original condition. Repairs to the moulded decoration around the top and some later filled in sections to the central edge. There is a missing section of the cross banding to the right hand corner of the top. The top has numerous old marks and scratches especially to the right hand side. The top drawer has a small missing section of the cross banding to the top right. The bottom drawer has similar damage to both top corners and a small chip to the carcass near the top left corner. Some small sections of crossbanding and moulded decoration have possibly been replaced, some minor chips and marks throughout. Otherwise a wonderful colour and shape. A fine example of its kind with an impeccable provenance.
"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, G. Himmelheber, Die Kunst des Deutschen Möbels. Spätbarock und Rokoko, vol. 2, München 1983, fig. 726.

The commode offered here is a fine example of the extraordinary craftsmanship in Rococo Franconia. In the era of Margravine Wilhelmine (1709-1758), Bayreuth was a very fashionable court. Wilhelmine born as Princess of Prussia and sister of King Frederick the Great was originally to be married to a member of a European Royal family. Politics made such a marriage impossible and led the princess to Franconia where she married Margravine Frederick of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (1711-1763). A gifted musician herself, she supported all artistic fields throughout her life. Bayreuth Rococo tends to have a special avant-garde feel, to the character and the predilections of Wilhelmine. It is impossible to name one specific characteristic, but if one were to do so, a certain love for the impressive Franconian landscape around Bayreuth as underlying 'proto-romantic' principle can be felt in many creations.

The most important testimony of this specific Bayreuth Rococo in the field of furniture is the so-called Spindlerkabinett or Marquetry Chamber of Castle Fantaisie near Bayreuth, a "Gesamtkunstwerk" of wall decoration, floor and furniture by the brothers Johann Friedrich (1726-1812) and Heinrich Wilhelm Spindler (1738-1788). The surviving panels, which were created in the early 1760's for Wilhelmine's daughter Elisabeth Friederike (1732-1780), are nowadays preserved at the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum in Munich. They bear witness to the innovative concept of using the natural grain and structure of various types of wood to depict landscape structures – a concept that is known in stone as pietra dura, but rarely seen in wood. The most refined German works of such painting in wood are certainly owed to the Spindler workshop.

The present example is very similar, not only to some of the panels of the Marquetry Chamber, but also to a commode mentioned in Die Kunst des deutschen Möbels by Heinrich Kreisel (op. cit.).
Another very similar commode to the present example is in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nürnberg (Inv. Nr. Hg. 12541). The top and front of this comparable piece are decorated with similar cartouches, the front depicts a landscape with an articulated tree and rock with a small dwelling on top. Furthermore the rocaille design of the two commodes is very alike. Characteristically of this type of commodes is the division in three sections of top and front which can be found on several surviving pieces.

The scene depicted on the front of the commode offered here is possibly inspired by the Sanspareil garden near Bayreuth, an invention of Markgravine Wilhelmine. The garden was laid out around a natural formation of sandstone pinnacles, which the Markgravine described as "Die Natur selbst war der Baumeister". This statement also applies for the variety of marquetry described above and thus also for the commode offered here: Nature herself was the designer.