A French gilt-bronze mounted vernis martin bombé commode, circa 1880

Sotheby's London, 7 June 1991, lot 89.

This splendid commode was bought by Freddie for his bedroom. The vernis martin surface is a another type of Japanning to that seen on the furniture by Hille and the Broadwood chinoiserie grand piano. The technique was named after the French brothers Guillaume, Etienne-Simon, Robert and Julien Martin. They ran a workshop between 1730 and 1770, and were vernisseurs du roi (varnishers to the king). The stencilled mark of Riéger is interesting and could refer to an unrecorded ébéniste (cabinet maker) or a retailer.

For other examples from the collection which employ this extravagant technique see lots 740 and 746.