A gilt-bronze-mounted kingwood, amaranth and sycamore parquetry commode, attributed to Martin Carlin Louis XVI, circa 1780-85

In overall very good conserved condition. There are very well repaired age cracks to both cupboard doors. There are also two vertical age cracks on each side which have been prefessionally restored and are hardly noticeable. Old minor marks and scratches throughout consistent with age and use. Beautiful detail to the parquetry. Can be placed immediately
"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."

The attribution of this commode to Martin Carlin is based on its striking geometrical trompe l'oeil parquetry. Commodes decorated in the same fashion and stamped by Carlin include one sold Sotheby's New York, October 13, 1973, lot 153; one sold Sotheby's Monaco, February 13, 1983, lot 504; and one sold Christie's Monaco, December 5, 1993, lot 207. A small Louis XV/XVI transitional small commode with identical trompe l'oeil parquetry was sold Sotheby's Monaco, May 21, 1978, lot 154. Furthermore, the abovementioned commode sold by Sotheby's in New York is also raised on identically-shaped legs and its apron is mounted with the same intriguingly simple ormolu spheres as the present piece. Besides Carlin, Adrien Faizelot-Delorme also executed and retailed comparable pieces in both similar parquetry and oriental lacquer. A similar commode stamped by Delorme decorated with related inlay and fitted with identical ormolu mounts on the legs, apron and frieze was formerly in the collection of Madame de Polès and sold Galerie Georges Petit, June 22-24, 1927, lot 295, see Guillaume Janneau, Les Commodes, Paris, 1977, p. XXXIIIB. Another commode in lacquer and with partially identical mounts stamped by Delorme and Pierre-Harry Mewesen sold from Longleat, Christie's London, June 13, 2002, lot 395. 

Martin Carlin :
Carlin was born in Baden the son of a carpenter and by 1759 he had settled in with German and Flemish ébénistes such as the Oeben and Vandercruse families. He worked all his life in the rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine and married J.-F. Oeben's sister in 1759. He started to supply the marchand-mercier Simon-Philippe Poirier and the mounting of porcelain plaques on furniture was a specialty of his. From 1766 to 1778, he supplied Poirier with porcelain mounted furniture after designs supplied by the latter using mounts and porcelain plaques supplied by him. After 1775, this production considerably decreased and from the late 1770's he concentrated on furniture applied with Japanese lacquer panels. In the inventory taken after his death, the records mention that he worked exclusively for the marchands-merciers. He supplied the marchands such as the sons of Darnault and also made lacquered furniture for Dominique Daguerre.